Hello! Ana Marcela Cunha takes gold in the 25km ultramarathon

“The one time I consider getting rid of my beard is when it gets weeds caught in it”

The 18th FINA World Aquatics Championships took place in Gwangju, South Korea, between 12 and 28 July. he open water events consisted of 5km, 10km and 25km and a mixed 5km team event. he 10km also served as a qualiier for next year’s Olympics, with the top 10 men and women securing places.

First on the programme was the men’s 5km, which was won with a 10 second margin by Hungary’s Kristov Rasovszky. Logan Fontaine of France and Eric Hedlin of Canada had a much closer battle for silver, with Fontaine just 0.2s ahead.

The women’s 10km was next. In irst place, China’s Xin Xin claimed her country’s irst open water World Championships medal with Haley Anderson (USA) second, 0.9s behind, and Rachele Bruni of Italy was third. Two days later, it was the men’s turn. Germany’s Florian Wellbrock and Rob Mufels claimed gold and bronze, while France’s Mark- Antoine Olivier was second.

In the women’s 5km, Brazil’s Ana Marcela Cunha, claimed her irst gold over this distance while Aurelie Muller of France was second. Neither electronic timing nor a photo inish could separate the next two inishers, Hannah Moore of the USA and Germany’s Leonie Beck – both were awarded bronze.