Ana Marcela
Cunha had
dreams of returning to the Olympics after she finished fifth in the Olympic 10K
Marathon Swim at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The 16-year-old was only 5
seconds outside the bronze medal in the 2-hour race. But she missed out
on her second Olympics by a mere 4 seconds at the 2011 World Championships in
Shanghai.
Disappointed beyond belief, Ana Marcela could have been excused
if she wallowed in self-pity.
But the dynamo from Brazil simply enjoys
the open water and heated competition too much. She quickly picked
herself up and finished 7th in the 5K race at the world
championships.
Incredibly, two days later, she entered her third race at the world
championships and earned an extremely hard-fought 25K victory. Brazil’s
first world open water swimming champion proved that defeat and disappointment
are only temporary with the proper mindset. Her victory put an
exclamation point on her season, replacing a frown with a bright smile.
Weathered and exhausted, but unyielding under the pressure of her vaulted
rivals and inhospitable 32°C water, Ana Marcela
Cunha proved herself a worthy nominee
for the 2011 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.
WOWSA aims to promote open water swimming as a global sport for those of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. It hosts the World Open Water Swimming Awards to recognize the open water swimming’s heroes and heroines.
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.