Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

There is a unique point system that is compiled at the FINA World Championships. Based on the finishes of the top swimmers at the 5 km, 10 km, and 25 km open water competitions (excluding the 5 km Team Pursuit), a Championships Trophy is given to the top open water swimming nations on Earth.

Riding on the backs of their dynamic duo of Poliana Okimoto and Ana Marcela Cunha, Brazil took the Championships Trophy for the first time in history.

Helped by the emerging strength of the Brazilian men too, the Brazilian team strength from the 5 km spring to the 25 km marathon proved the only way possible to topple the perennially strong German team led by Thomas Lurz.

“But the 5 km team event is not taken into account for the Team trophy…a Championships Trophy would have Brazil and Germany tied with 112 points,” explains Ricardo Ratto, an Olympic marathon swimming official.

“There was a mistake with the results. Brazil’s delegate showed that there was no points given for team event at this competition, something that must be reviewed prior to the next competition.”

The final results of the 2013 Championships Trophy:

1. Brazil 98
2. Germany 94
3. United States 65
4. Greece 50
5. Italy 47
6. Tunisia 32
7. France 30
7. Canada 30
9. Russia 23
10. Belgium 18
11. South Africa 17
12. Hungary 15
13. Australia 13
14. China 12
15. New Zealand 8
15. Argentina 8
15. Netherlands 8
18. Spain 6
18. Ecuador 6
18. Japan 6
21. Czech Republic 3
21. Ukraine 3
23. Israel 2

Copyright © 2013 by World Open Water Swimming Association