Ana Marcela wins bronze in 10 km, her 2nd medal in Hungary

Just over a second made the difference for Olympic champion Ana Marcela Cunha in her search for her first gold medal in the 10-kilometer Open Water Marathon. On Wednesday morning (June 29), she posted a time of 2h02min30s70 and won the bronze medal. She was surpassed in the final sprint of the race at the Open Water World Championship in Budapest (Hungary). The Brazilian swimmer was overtaken by the Dutch Sharon Van Rowendaal, first placed (2h20min29s20), and the German Leonie Beck (2h02min29s70), who came in second. It was the second conquest of the 30-year-old swimmer from Bahia state in this year's edition, after winning the gold medal last Monday in the 5 km marathon swimming event. Ana Marcela has won so far 14 medals in international championships.

“It was a difficult race, with several Olympic medalists. I adopted a different strategy, and increased the pace a little, it was a very difficult and very good race, but I am happy with my result. It's my 14th medal in World Cups,” said Ana Marcela to the Brazilian Water Sports Confederation (CBDA).

Vivi Jungblut from Rio Grande do Sul state also competed in the 10 km event, but she ended up in 16th place. In the men's race, Brazil had Bruce Hanson Almeida from São Paulo (25th place), and Guilherme Costa, who left the competition on the fifth lap due to physical exhaustion.

Ana Marcela, Cibelle Jungblut, and Bruce Hanson will compete again this Thursday (30), in the 25 km marathon, their last race in the World Championship.