The U.S. team hero for the opening day of the 3rd FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships was Sara McLarty, who swam a tough race to edge out German Britta Kamrau for bronze in the 5K distance. This was the first time the U.S. has been in the medals in the open water competition in some time. 

The top two places went to Russians;  Larisa Ilchenko won the gold, and Ksenia Popova took silver. American Beth Byrum was 17th.

On the men's side, Jeremy Gregory was the top U.S. finisher in 18th place, while Chris Thompson was 22nd. Australia's Grant Cleland captured the gold and teammate Josh Santacaterina won bronze; Germany's Christian Hein took the silver. 

The races were held in the main river running through the city of Dubai. The 5K race was a double loop course. In both the men's and women's races, the lead group distanced themselves around the 3K mark, while the medalists generally separated themselves from others in the lead group by the 4K mark. 

Women's 5K Results:
1. Larisa Ilchenko (RUS) 1:03:11.9
2. Ksenia Popova (RUS) 1:03:43.8
3. Sara McLarty (USA) 1:03:52.9
4. Britta Kamrau (GER) 1:03:54.0
5. Alessia Paoloni (ITA) 1:04:12.1
6. Edith van Dijk (NED) 1:04:25.4
7. Karley Stutzel (CAN) 1:04:29.1
8. Lauren Arndt (AUS) 1:04:30.2
9. Jana Pechanova (CZE) 1:04:39.9
10. Stefanie Biller (GER) 1:04:44.0
11. Ivanka Moralieva (BUL) 1:04:50.4
12. Catherine Ware (AUS) 1:04:54.3
13. Melissa Pasquali (ITA) 1:05:24.6
14. Denise Schrader (SUI) 1:05:38.2
15. Geijo Pilar (ARG) 1:06:43.4
16. Nika Kozamernik (SLO) 1:07:44.4
17. Beth Byrum (USA) 1:09:40.2
18. Paloma Lopez Carrillo (MEX) 1:12:26.7
19. Bruna Cavalcante (BRA) 1:12:59.7
20. Pamela Engel (BRA) 1:13:34.5
Tanya Hunks (CAN) did not finish.

Men's 5K Results:
1. Grant Cleland (AUS) 56:52.9
2. Christian Hein (GER) 56:54.1
3. Josh Santacaterina (AUS) 56:55.5
4. Thomas Lurz (GER) 57:01.5
5. Ivan Lopez Ramos (MEX) 57:02.8
6. Alan Bircher (GBR) 57:08.3
7. Petar Stoychev (BUL) 57:32.3
8. Evgeny Drattsev (RUS) 57:48.9
9. Jarrod Ballem (CAN) 57:51.1
10. Stephane Gomez (FRA) 57:52.2
11. Fabio Venturini (ITA) 57:52.8
12. Samuele Pampana (ITA) 57:53.8
13. Maxim Luchnikov (RUS) 57:55.4
14. Emmanuel Poissier (FRA) 58:20.3
15. Vitek Rostislav (CZE) 58:23.3
16. Shaun Dias (RSA) 58:24.4
17. David Creel (CAN) 58:28.0
18. Carlos Pavao (BRA) 58:30.9
19. Jeremy Gregory (USA) 58:49.5
20. Damian Blaum (ARG) 58:52.4
21. Luis Eduardo Oliveira (BRA) 58:58.0
22. Chris Thompson (USA) 59:35.3
23. David Proud (GBR) 1:03:45.0
24. Marcos Diaz (DOM) 1:09:39.5
25. Kamel Tejeda (DOM) 1:11:28.9
26. Stelios Assimakopoulos (GRE) 1:11:30.4
27. Mubarak Salem (UAE) 1:26:25.3
28. Gamal Khamis (UAE) 1:27:38.0
29. Mohammad Abustreyeh (PLE) 1:47:37.6
El Sir El Hag El Rayah (SUD) did not finish.