The Blue Challenge makes a splash in its inaugural edition

The Blue Challenge, an open water swimming event connecting Los Cristianos with El Palm-Mar, celebrated a successful debut on Sunday, achieving its goal of providing a day filled with sports and community spirit in Arona, in the south of Tenerife.

For a newly established event, the greatest reward comes from the satisfaction of its participants. The first edition of The Blue Challenge received widespread acclaim from its 300 registrants across two competitive categories. Additionally, the event brought joy to children participating in youth races, their families, and the general public who flocked to Los Cristianos beach to enjoy a festive day centred around sport and camaraderie.

Organised by the Canaryrun club with sponsorship from Spring in Motion (Spring Hotels) and supported by the Arona Council and the Tenerife Cabildo through Ideco, the open water swim successfully united Los Cristianos with El Palm-Mar.

The event also fostered a sense of community among the swimmers' families, all under the esteemed patronage of legendary swimmer David Meca. Meca, hailing from Sabadell in Catalonia, participated in the short race and waited just metres from the finish line to congratulate the swimmers on their impressive efforts.

"It has been a truly exciting day," stated Javier Pérez, one of the event organisers and a member of the Canaryrun team. Pérez expressed his immense satisfaction, saying, "We have achieved what we set out to do when we began organising this event alongside Spring Hotels."

He extended his gratitude to all participants and their companions, as well as to Miguel Villarroya, CEO of Spring Hotels, the Arona City Council, and the Tenerife Cabildo for their unwavering support.

The first edition of The Blue Challenge marks a significant milestone both socially and athletically. Looking ahead, future editions aim to break previous records, although replicating the excellent sea conditions and favourable weather experienced during this inaugural event in Los Cristianos may prove challenging.

Race Highlights:

5-Kilometre Race:

• Winner: Carlos Alberto Pérez – 1 hour, 11 minutes, 39 seconds
• Second Place: Fabio Bruscolotti – 1 hour, 11 minutes, 48 seconds
• Third Place: Héctor Hernández – 1 hour, 12 minutes, 44 seconds

Women's 5-Kilometre Race:

• Winner: Elena Sarmiento (Gran Canaria) – 1 hour, 17 minutes, 45 seconds
• Second Place: Bárbara Scarpa – 1 hour, 20 minutes, 28 seconds
• Third Place: María Brito – 1 hour, 22 minutes, 44 seconds

1.5-Kilometre Race:

• Winner: Iván González – 18 minutes, 27 seconds
• Second Place: Endika Pradera – 19 minutes, 45 seconds
• Third Place: Teodoro Pérez – 19 minutes, 56 seconds

Women's 1.5-Kilometre Race:

• Winner: Natalia Moure – 21 minutes, 03 seconds
• Second Place: Rebeca Calzadilla – 22 minutes, 36 seconds
• Third Place: María Castillo – 22 minutes, 40 seconds

The success of The Blue Challenge’s first edition sets a promising foundation for future events, fostering both athletic excellence and community engagement in Arona.