Moesha Johnson wins Australia’s first 10km open-water gold at world championships

Her victory came on a challenging day at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, where fellow Australian Kyle Lee also secured a bronze medal in the men’s event, opening the team’s medal tally.

The win marks Australia’s fifth open water world title across all distances. Both Johnson and Lee will also be part of the Australian mixed team relay quartet, which is set to defend their world title later in the competition.

Johnson completed the 10km swim in 2 hours, 7 minutes, and 51.30 seconds, finishing 4.40 seconds ahead of Italy’s Ginevra Taddeucci. Lisa Pou of Monaco claimed the bronze medal, while Johnson’s teammate and fellow Paris Olympian, Chelsea Gubecka, finished ninth.

Johnson’s victory was hard-earned in brutal conditions. Water temperatures reached 30°C, and the competition was held after two postponements due to concerns over water quality. Describing the race as “one of the hardest” she’s ever experienced, Johnson credited her success to mental resilience, her faith, and the support of her family.

“That was definitely harder than Paris,” Johnson said after the race. “The heat, 36-hour delay, the strong currents … that was one of the hardest circumstances and open water conditions I have been part of. Since the Olympics I have tried to embrace every opportunity and race with the feeling that I have nothing left to prove. I’ve had back-to-back illnesses but my family and faith got me through.”

Organisers had postponed the events at Palawan Beach on Sentosa Island due to dirty sea water. Water samples collected on Tuesday, however, showed “significant improvement,” prompting the go-ahead for Wednesday’s races.

Despite the challenges, the Australian team showcased its strength and depth in open water swimming. “I am so proud of this team,” Johnson added. “We had two girls and two guys in the top 10 and that’s a credit to this whole Dolphins team.”

In the men’s race, Germany’s Florian Wellbrock continued his dominance in open water swimming, winning his sixth world title. He clocked a time of 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 55.50 seconds, narrowly beating Italian rival Gregorio Paltrinieri by 3.70 seconds. Kyle Lee finished just 14.80 seconds behind Wellbrock to secure the bronze.

The bronze medal marks Lee’s first individual world championship medal, and it came after an intense sprint to the finish line where he edged out Germany’s Oliver Klemet by just 0.1 seconds. “We prepared for these conditions in Darwin and to be honest … I am just in shock,” Lee said after the race.

Another Australian and Paris Olympian, Nicholas Sloman, also performed strongly, finishing eighth. All four athletes—Johnson, Lee, Gubecka, and Sloman—will now shift their focus to defending their title in the mixed team relay event later in the championship.

Johnson is not done yet. After her open water events, she will also take part in the 800m and 1500m freestyle races in the pool. Her versatility and stamina make her one of Australia’s most valuable swimmers at this year’s World Aquatics Championships.

The medals won by Johnson and Lee not only boost Australia’s position in the competition but also underline the country’s growing dominance in open water swimming. With more events to come and the mixed relay on the horizon, the Australian Dolphins team is riding a wave of momentum in Singapore.