Betlehem and Fabian add fresh faces as Verani and Kasvio return for Razanac leg of Open Water Swimming Cup

September 25, 2026
1:57 pm

*David Betlehem missed the previous leg of the European Aquatics Open Water Swimming Cup 2026 in Tenero, but he will be back this time around. Credit: Aniko Kovacs/European Aquatics*

The European Aquatics Open Water Swimming Cup 2026 moves to Razanac on Saturday for the second stop of the season, with the 10km races set to get underway over six laps of the Croatian course as the series prepares to wrap up next weekend.

Italy’s Dario Verani and Finland’s Louna Kasvio are both back in the water looking to build on the leads they established with victory at the opening leg in Tenero. Verani’s win in Switzerland, where he held off a tightly packed field to take the men’s title, has put him at the top of the standings heading into Croatia, while Kasvio’s photo-finish victory over Klaudia Tarasiewicz did the same on the women’s side.

Both will be aiming to extend their advantage with just Barcelona to come on 3 October to decide the overall champions.

Bartosz Kapala (left), Dario Verani (centre) and Jaan Pasko (right) all gave good accounts of themselves in Tenero. All three of them will return to race again in Razanac. Credit: Patrick B. Kraemer / MAGICPBK / European Aquatics

A number of names from the Tenero podium and top ten are confirmed to return in the 28-strong men’s field. Poland’s Bartosz Kapala and Estonia’s Jaan Pasko, who finished second and third in Switzerland, are both entered, as is Verani’s fourth-placed compatriot Fabio Dalu. Germany’s Diego Alfons Heinze, Mika Kovács and Lukas Steuter, all top-ten finishers in Tenero, round out the returning contingent.

The standout addition to the field is David Betlehem of Hungary, who did not feature in Tenero but joins the entry list for Razanac. Betlehem arrives with strong pedigree, having claimed Olympic medal success and European title honours at the Paris 2026 Championships earlier this year. He will be sure to give the front runners a challenge as they all seek those precious ranking points.

In the 17-strong women’s field, Tarasiewicz is joined by fellow Tenero top-ten finishers Fabienne Wenske, Luisa Rumler and Kirke Mõtsnik of Germany and Estonia respectively. Hungary also adds a new name on the women’s side, with Bettina Fabian entered for her first appearance of the season. She arrives off the back of a European silver medal from Paris 2026, making her another athlete to watch as the series heads towards its conclusion.

*Louna Kasvio (centre) and Klaudia Tarasiewicz (right) will both take part in what will be a hotly contested women’s race in Croatia. Credit: Patrick B. Kraemer / MAGICPBK / European Aquatics*

Racing gets underway in Razanac on Saturday, with the men’s race starts at 9:00 CEST, followed by the women five minutes later at 9:05 CEST. The results will be set to sharpen the picture ahead of the series finale in Barcelona next weekend, with champions then crowned.

The event will be available to watch via the Croatian Arena TV channel.

Click here for the event page. The entries are below.