World Championships: Moesha Johnson Becomes First Australian To Win 10k Title On Monumental Day In Singapore
Moesha Johnson wrote a unique line in history as she became the first Australian to win a world 10k title with victory in Singapore.
The Olympic silver medallist went ahead on the third of six laps at Sentosa Bay and dictated the race thereafter to come home in 2:07:51.3, a year after finishing second in Paris behind Sharon van Rouwendaal, her friend and training partner under Bernd Berkhahn in Magdeburg.
Johnson’s victory means Berkhahn guided swimmers to the men’s and women’s titles with Florian Wellbrock having claimed the former with a masterclass in the opening race of the World Championships.
Paris bronze medallist Ginevra Taddeucci of Italy was second with Lisa Pou of Monaco third.
Van Rouwendaal is one of three women to have won two world titles in the 10k but she isn’t competing in 2025 and instead was watching on in Singapore as her friend succeeded her as world champion.
The women’s race was due to have taken place on Tuesday morning but it was postponed due to e-coli levels and poor water quality. Instead, it was rearranged for Wednesday morning following the men’s event although they were subsequently pushed back to the afternoon.
The water was 30 degrees-plus and the conditions pretty choppy with the setting sun creating increasing glare on the water.
Johnson’s Australia teammate and Fukuoka 2023 silver medallist Chelsea Gubecka surged ahead at the start although her lead was short-lived. Pou and Taddeucci were swiftly into the mix with Johnson back in 13th place.
Johnson picked off the women ahead of her and at halfway she held the lead ahead of Taddeucci, Maria de Valdes, Ekaterina Sorokina, Pou and Barbora Pozzobon.
more to follow…..
