Second Capri-Napoli open test: Emre Erdogan is the undisputed winner among the men, while Ana Carolina Morelli won the victory among the women.
In the heart of the Gulf of Naples, a day of sport and international celebration at the Circolo Canottieri Napoli was the backdrop to the second of the three open trials of the Capri-Napoli, the historic 36-kilometer swimming marathon that attracted some of the best international swimmers. The event, organized by Luciano Cotena’s company Eventualmente eventi & comunicazione, saw Emre Erdogan emerge as the undisputed winner among the men, while Ana Carolina Morelli took victory among the women. The final stage of this competition will be held on Friday, July 5.
SECOND ROUND CAPRI-NAPOLI OPEN: ERDOGAN’S VICTORY
Turkish swimmer Emre Erdogan won the second stage of the Capri-Naples Open with an extraordinary performance despite the adverse sea conditions. Starting from Gemma Rocchi’s Lido Le Ondine Beach Club, Erdogan navigated the waters to Molosiglio in just over eight hours (8.01.40), demonstrating unparalleled determination. «For me it was the second experience,» declared Erdogan, «but it is the first time that I have completed the test, having had to withdraw in the first circumstance due to physical problems. It was very hard, because after about fifteen kilometers I found myself swimming against the wind and with quite high waves. I had also trained to face a sea that was not exactly clear, but I didn’t think that these conditions would accompany me for so long.”
CAPRI- NAPOLI OPEN: THE RESULTS
Erdogan (no relation to his country’s president of the same name) preceded the Italian Marco Millefiori (9.35. 15), the Israeli Denis Portnoi (9:43:35) and the Belgian Andread Derudder (9.58. 15). Among the women, the Brazilian Ana Carolina Morelli shone by completing the crossing in 8.32. 10. “It was my second experience in open water races of this length,” explained Morelli, “after a 37 km in Brazil, that race swam entirely near the coast. I was prepared for the sea conditions, having studied the waters of the gulf with my coach. The first three hours were calm, then came another three hours of rough seas. In those moments I took courage by seeing the mainland closer but above all by observing the island of Capri that appeared smaller and smaller.”
THE RELAYS
In the relays, Italy triumphed over the representatives of Argentina and Mexico. The Calabrian team of Kroton Nuoto (made up of Luigi D’Alfonso, Alessandro Capozza, Luca Vrenna and Fabio Milizia), won by completing the 36 km in 7.36.50. They preceded the Sapri-Maratea 24 team (7.58.50) and the Argentines of the Pilar Geijo team, which included Geijo herself, protagonist of the overall Capri-Napoli several times and winner in 2011 and 2016.
The event represented an important opportunity for athletes of different nationalities to meet and compete, underlining once again the universality and passion that animate the world of open-water swimming. With the third and final stage scheduled for next Friday, the wait for the new protagonists of the Capri-Naples grows, promising other intense emotions.
