Overview

• The men’s 10 km open-water race finally started at midday after tests showed improved conditions, with Florian Wellbrock winning his seventh world title in 1 :59 :55.5 and Oliver Klemet placing fourth
• Germany’s Lea Boy withdrew mid-race in over-30 °C water during the women’s 10 km event and Jeannette Spiwoks finished 15th after multiple postponements
• Water at Palawan Beach repeatedly exceeded bacteria limits and hovered near the 31 °C maximum, prompting late-night postponements and schedule shifts into the heat of the day
• German coach Bernd Berkhahn and former world champion Franziska van Almsick urged World Aquatics to strengthen safety protocols and reconsider its temperature cap
• The disruptions echo previous open-water controversies and intensify scrutiny on organizers to address environmental and health risks