Johnson strikes gold for Australia in Pan Pacs open water
Australia’s medal tally at the Pan Pacific Championships got off to a flying start on the Gold Coast, with Moesha Johnson powering to victory in the women’s 10-kilometre open water…
Australia’s medal tally at the Pan Pacific Championships
Australia’s medal tally at the Pan Pacific Championships got off to a flying start on the Gold Coast, with Moesha Johnson powering to victory in the women’s 10-kilometre open water event.
The 25-year-old from the New South Wales Central Coast timed her final surge to perfection, breaking clear of the chasing pack in the closing stages to touch the wall well ahead of her rivals. Her winning time of 1:57:13.8 underscored a commanding performance in the warm, choppy conditions off the beach at Main Beach.
Japan’s Airi Ebina took silver, while Brazil’s Ana Marcela Cunha, a two-time world champion, had to settle for bronze. Johnson’s triumph marks the first gold for Australia at these championships, setting a confident tone for the pool events that begin later in the meet.
Speaking after the race, Johnson said she had
Speaking after the race, Johnson said she had prepared meticulously for the heat and the tactical demands of the course, and that her patience paid off. “I knew I had to stay calm in the middle part and just trust my legs in the final kilometre,” she remarked. “To hear the home crowd and see the flags on the last stretch was an incredible feeling.”
The result continues Johnson’s rapid rise in open water swimming, having finished seventh at the Tokyo Olympics and claimed bronze at last year’s world championships. With the Paris Games now less than a year away, this victory will only boost her confidence as she builds toward the Olympic 10km race.
Australian head coach Rohan Taylor praised Johnson’s race intelligence, noting she executed the game plan flawlessly. The team will now shift focus to the pool, where several more medal hopes are expected to shine over the coming days.