MALIBU—Top open water swimmer and gold medalist Jordan Wilimovsky, 23, a native of Malibu, won the 10-kilometer title at the U.S. Open Water National Championships on Friday, May 19, at Castaic Lake.

Wilimovsky, representing Team Santa Monica, finished the 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) swim in 1 hour, 57 minutes, and 45.61 seconds. About an hour and 15 minutes into the race, he pulled ahead of the other competitors, winning with a margin of 52 seconds. The victory will allow him to compete in the FINA (Fédération internationale de natation or the International Swimming Federation) World Championships, which will take place in Budapest, Hungary from July 14 to July 30.

According to event information provided by Swimming World, the Open Water National Championships also serve as qualifying events for the USA Swimming Open Water National Team, National Junior Team, Junior Open Water World Cup Team, and World University Games.

In 2015, Wilimovsky won the national title in the 10-kilometer open water event during the FINA World Championships, 12 seconds ahead of contenders, which qualified him for his first Olympic Games. After placing second in the 1,500-meter event in the 2016 Olympic Trials, he became the first American swimmer to qualify for both the open water and pool events in the Olympics. He placed fifth during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Wilimovsky attended Malibu High School, where he broke three school records. In 2012, he competed in the U.S. and World Junior National Open Water Teams and placed in the top 20 for the 1,500-meter freestyle in the Olympic Trials, according to Swim Swam Magazine. During his years at Northwestern University, he competed in the Big Ten Championships, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships, and the ATT Winter Nationals. He also competed in the 2013 U.S. Open, 2013 and 2014 U.S. Open Water Championships, and the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships. He has trained under coach Dave Kelsheimer of Team Santa Monica since 2010.

Ashley Twichell of the North Carolina Aquatic Club won the title for the women’s 10-kilometer event, which will secure her a spot in the FINA World Championships. Brendan Casey and Olympian Haley Anderson, who each placed second, will also participate in the championships in Budapest.