Women’s Podium Winners Confirmed In Santos
17-year-old Ana Marcela Cunha won today’s FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup (Maratona Internacional de Santos – Trophy Renata Agondi). Ana Marcela played her cards right, taking over after the last turn buoy with 1.1K to go from Olympic 10K champion Larisa Ilchenko and American Chloe Sutton under calm seas with no wind.
“In the end, I sprinted to a two-body advantage and finally defeated the Olympic champion, Larisa,” said Ana Marcela who was carried around the beach on the shoulders of her boisterous fans. “I always hit the limit, but this time I achieved my goal. Now I will prepare myself well for the World Championships in Canada where I am going to strive for a medal – as well as all the other World Cup races until October.”Italy’s Martina Grimaldi and and Alice Franco finished second and third in an extremely tight sprint to the finish.
The men’s race was so close and so hotly contested that it took time to determine the final results. After a lengthy review of the photo-finish, the officials awarded the victory to Russia’s Evgeny Drattsev – which seemed deserving since he had led the pack for much of the race. Chad Ho of South Africa finished second.
Photos courtesy of Satiro Sodré of the Brazilian Swimming Federation.
Copyright © 2010 by World Open Water Swimming Association
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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