Open Water Dolphins to open Pan Pacs at Long Beach

A European “heat wave” is just what the field needed as senior Dolphins and experienced Olympians Moesha Johnson and Nick Sloman welcomed several big names to the women’s and men’s 10km field of the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.

In less than 24 hours, the 2026 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships open water 10km events will take place in 24-degree water at Marine Stadium in Long Beach, California.

The men’s and women’s races open the championships, and the field features top distance swimmers including world champion Johnson and 2018 Pan Pac bronze medallist Sloman, alongside global stars like Germany’s Florian Wellbrock.

Other Europeans on the start list include Pasquale Angelo Giordano of Italy, Dario Verani of Italy, and Jeannette Spiwoks of Germany.

Traditionally, the generally-accepted definition has been that the Pan Pacs was designed as a counter to the European Championships, and so it was for any country that wasn’t European.

Until now.

Johnson said: “I think it’s a really interesting field, a high-quality field. We’ve got a lot of Europeans coming over in the men’s race, so that will be really strong – I mean Flo (Wellbrock) is a 10x world champion.”

“Then there’s Dario, even some strong Mexican swimmers and of course our boys. Nick (Sloman) has been training really well and I can’t wait to see what our rookie Euan Linley does.

“And then there’s the Americans obviously competing in front of a home crowd, they’ll be extra strong – the Japanese will be strong, and then the likes of USA’s Katie Grimes who is pool swimmer returning to her open water roots.”

Headlining the Dolphins’ team is the current world’s best female swimmer in Johnson, who has not lost a 10km race in 2026, Sloman and Olympian Chelsea Douyere (nee Gubecka & pictured).

The Pan Pacific Championships are held every four years between charter nations of USA, Japan, Australia and Canada and Tiana Kritzinger and rookies Liney and Jacqueline Davison-McGovern have also made the team.

Pool distance swimmer Kritzinger represented Australia in the 1500m at the 2025 World Short Course Championships but burst on to the open water scene in January with a 10km bronze medal at the Australian Open Water Championships.

Tomorrow will be just her fourth open water race.

Head coach Fernando Possenti, who will spearhead the open water cycle towards the 2028 LA Olympic Games, said the team was a mix of proven performers and rising rookies.

“Moesha, Nick and Chelsea – they have been the spine of this Dolphins team on the international stage. But what we have now is a keen younger generation snapping at their heels,” Possenti said.

“This puts us in a great position as we head towards the LA Games. Open Water is not part of the Commonwealth Games so this their moment to shine.”

PAN PACIFIC CHAMPS OPEN WATER TEAM:

• Jacqueline Davison-McGovern* – St Peters Western, QLD
• Chelsea Douyere – Yeronga Park, QLD
• Moesha Johnson – Miami, QLD
• Tiana Kritzinger – Rackley, QLD
• Euan Liney* – Knox Pymble Swim Club, NSW
• Nick Sloman – Melbourne Vicentre, VIC

* Dolphin Debut