Occhipinti and Puca Win Ohrid Swimming Marathon, Cekov Takes Bronze

Italy's Alessio Occhipinti and Argentina's Maite Ailen Puca won the 39th edition of the Ohrid Swimming Marathon, with young Petar Cekov the top domestic finisher, coming in third overall.

Sixteen swimmers from eight countries covered the traditional "Klime Savin" route, a 25-kilometer stretch from the Sveti Naum monastery to Ohrid's town harbor. Occhipinti completed the distance in 5 hours, 3 minutes and 44 seconds, while Puca finished in 5 hours, 20 minutes and 44 seconds — both defending their titles from last year's edition.

Cekov's Bronze and Honest Words

Petar Cekov crossed the finish line in 5 hours, 7 minutes and 26 seconds — third place, the best result among the four Macedonian swimmers competing (alongside Aleksandar Ilievski, Leonid Miševski and Rosana Goševa). After the race, the young swimmer said it had been a tough race and that he felt a bit tired, but satisfied with the result. He admitted to a moment's slip during the race — losing sight of his competitors at one point — but still managed to defend the home colors at the country's most prestigious event of its kind.

A Tradition Seven Decades Old

President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova personally presented the awards. The Ohrid Swimming Marathon traces its tradition back to the 1950s, and the record holder for most wins is Bulgaria's Petar Stoychev, with 11 victories over the years. Organizers have already announced preparations begin today for next year's milestone 40th edition.

MKNews Hub · Sport · August 22, 2026