California surfer wins 10K event

KAZAN, Russia — After biding his time, Jordan Wilimovsky made a clean break from the collection of thrashing arms and legs. He surged into the lead and was on his way to Rio de Janeiro.

Wilimovsky, 20, cruised to a 12.1-second victory in the 10-kilometer open water race Monday at the world championships, becoming one of 10 men to qualify for the 2016 Olympics.

“It was super cool,” said Wilimovsky, a surfer in his hometown of Malibu, Calif., who started swimming at the relatively late age of 10 in an effort to become a junior beach lifeguard.

He powered from the back of the lead pack on the third lap and finished in 1 hour, 49 minutes, 48.2 seconds. He is the first American man to win the 10K at worlds since 2005.

Wilimovsky led the final 3 kilometers over the Kazanka River course under ideal conditions. There was little wind and the 70degree water was flat on a 73-degree day with puffy clouds dotting blue skies.

“My strategy was to hang back for the first 5 kilometers, build up at the last 5 kilometers and have enough at the end to hopefully finish fast,” said Wilimovsky, whose power belies his 5-foot-9 stature that makes him shorter than many of his rivals.

Ferry Weertman of the Netherlands earned the silver medal in 1:50:00.3. Twotime 10K world champion Spyridon Gianniotis of Greece took bronze in 1:50:00.7 to earn his fifth Olympic berth at age 35.

In diving, China ruled again with two more victories and has won all five events.

Russia won the synchro team tech final, its third gold in four events in synchronized swimming.