More international swimmers, women and youth at Tabarca parade this Sunday
VL Deltel
Bou covered the 5.9 kilometers between Tabarca island and the coast of Santa Pola in an official time of 1 hour 20 minutes and 8 seconds, just 6 seconds ahead of the next rival. Jorge Navarro finished second, representing CN Marina Cartagena. The event drew strong crowds and featured notable performances from the youngest competitors in the promises category. The defending champion, Daniel Ponce, crossed the finish line with a determined sprint, narrowly missing the podium after a fierce last stretch against Navarro of CN Tennis Elche.
Race moment — Matias Segarra
The decisive chase continued as the lead quartet pressed on, with Mario Guillen of CN Terrassa finishing just 5 seconds from the podium. The leading four swimmers extended their advantage to over three minutes ahead of the rest of the field, showcasing a clear gap between the front runners and the main chasing group.
Daniel Ponce reigns in Santa Pola
Caesar Hernandez
In the women’s division, Aina Conca, competing as an independent swimmer, dominated the Santa Pola waters with a strong performance finishing in 1 hour 35 minutes and 13 seconds. Nadia Rodriguez of Club Trinat crossed the line nearly two and a half minutes later. Rodriguez, who won in 2022, faced a tough field, while Ainhoa Bays of Independiente claimed a close second, with Caroline Damasio also finishing among the top contenders.
CLASSIFICATIONS 26th EDITION TABARCA CROSS TO SANTA POLA
General
1st Miguel Bou
2nd Jorge Navarro
3rd Daniel Ponce
4th Mario Guillen
5th Fernando Calvo
Female
1st Aina Conca
2nd Nadia Rodriguez
3rd Ainhoa Bays
4th Karolina Damasio
5th Esther Morales
Local
1st Karolina Damasio
2nd Ester Rico
3rd Antonio Martinez
The arrival of the ladies’ winner in Santa Pola was documented by Matias Segarra.
participation success
The Tabarca-Santa Pola swimming parade, which resumed last year after a pandemic hiatus, continues to attract participants and is recognized as one of the world’s top open-water events as well as one of Spain’s most prestigious competitions. The event began in 1996, organized by Solo Swimming Club, and has grown into a celebrated spectacle for swimmers and spectators alike.
The route remains the most attended open-water journey in Spain, moving from an island to a peninsula. This Sunday, 1,248 swimmers embraced personal challenges, completing the nearly six-mile course and ensuring the event will return even stronger next year.