Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Brennan Gravley, Mariah Denigan Record Top-20 Finishes at World Aquatics Open Water Championships 5K
Results
FUKUOKA, Japan – The 2023 World Aquatics Open Water Championships continued Tuesday at the Seaside Momochi Beach Park in Fukuoka, Japan. Three American swimmers competed in the women’s and men’s 5K events, respectively, finishing in the top 30.
Women’s 5K – FINAL
18th – Mariah Denigan (Walton, Ky./Indiana University), 1:01:18.30
Denigan on her performance: “It was a lot hotter than it was on race day for the 10K, so the water temperature was much hotter. I also think I let my emotions of that race kind of get the best of me, especially when it came to the pack of girls I was in. I was getting swallowed at the turns and that took a lot of emotional energy out of me and affected my race plan.”
Men’s 5K – FINAL
17th – Brennan Gravley (Las Vegas, Nev./University of Florida), 56:48.50
28th – Dylan Gravely (Las Vegas, Nev./Arizona State University), 57:20.00
B. Gravley on his performance: “It was a little choppier out there; we had a little bit of a breeze so there was a little more current. We were taking a little bit worse lines out there on the course, so it was little bit slower of a race time wise. It was a much better swum race for me today. I fell back to that second pack but was still able to have a really good finish and pass up most of that crew. Definitely better than the 10K and still trying to get the best results I can at this meet to learn for the future.”
D. Gravely on his performance: “The beginning was pretty tough, a lot of people going a lot of different directions. Back where I was, it seemed like no one really knew where they were going. I was getting crossed up, swam over and I was swimming over people. The beginning was tough, and I definitely spent a little too much energy there.”
D. Graveley on losing his cap and goggles: “About halfway, my cap came off and had a little extra drag there. I fell back and hung with a larger pack, about 20 men, one of who kicked me right between the eyes and split my goggles in half. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to recover my goggles. I was just swimming blind out there for a little while before my eyes adjusted to the salt water. Really tough race, and least ideal conditions. All I had left on me was my suit, but I think considering the circumstances I put it a very strong effort and did what I could. I’m disappointed with the performance, but there isn’t much you can do in a situation like that except survive, and that’s what I did. Definitely a learning experience.”
The open water competition finishes Thursday with the mixed 4x1500m relay at 8 a.m. local time (in the U.S.: Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET).
2023 World Aquatics Open Water Medal Table
FUKUOKA, Japan – The 2023 World Aquatics Open Water Championships continued Tuesday at the Seaside Momochi Beach Park in Fukuoka, Japan. Three American swimmers competed in the women’s and men’s 5K events, respectively, finishing in the top 30.
Women’s 5K – FINAL
18th – Mariah Denigan (Walton, Ky./Indiana University), 1:01:18.30
Denigan on her performance: “It was a lot hotter than it was on race day for the 10K, so the water temperature was much hotter. I also think I let my emotions of that race kind of get the best of me, especially when it came to the pack of girls I was in. I was getting swallowed at the turns and that took a lot of emotional energy out of me and affected my race plan.”
Men’s 5K – FINAL
17th – Brennan Gravley (Las Vegas, Nev./University of Florida), 56:48.50
28th – Dylan Gravely (Las Vegas, Nev./Arizona State University), 57:20.00
B. Gravley on his performance: “It was a little choppier out there; we had a little bit of a breeze so there was a little more current. We were taking a little bit worse lines out there on the course, so it was little bit slower of a race time wise. It was a much better swum race for me today. I fell back to that second pack but was still able to have a really good finish and pass up most of that crew. Definitely better than the 10K and still trying to get the best results I can at this meet to learn for the future.”
D. Gravely on his performance: “The beginning was pretty tough, a lot of people going a lot of different directions. Back where I was, it seemed like no one really knew where they were going. I was getting crossed up, swam over and I was swimming over people. The beginning was tough, and I definitely spent a little too much energy there.”
D. Graveley on losing his cap and goggles: “About halfway, my cap came off and had a little extra drag there. I fell back and hung with a larger pack, about 20 men, one of who kicked me right between the eyes and split my goggles in half. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to recover my goggles. I was just swimming blind out there for a little while before my eyes adjusted to the salt water. Really tough race, and least ideal conditions. All I had left on me was my suit, but I think considering the circumstances I put it a very strong effort and did what I could. I’m disappointed with the performance, but there isn’t much you can do in a situation like that except survive, and that’s what I did. Definitely a learning experience.”
The open water competition finishes Thursday with the mixed 4x1500m relay at 8 a.m. local time (in the U.S.: Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET).
2023 World Aquatics Open Water Medal Table
| Federation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| Germany | 4 | 1 | 5 | |
| Italy | 2 | 2 | ||
| Australia | 1 | 1 | ||
| Hungary | 1 | 1 | ||
| Netherlands | 1 | 1 | ||
| United States | 1 | 1 | ||
| Brazil | 1 | 1 |