16th FINA World Championships July 24 - August 9, 2015 AURELIE MULLER EMERGES VICTORIOUS IN WOMEN'S 10KM OPEN WATER RACE 28.07.2015, 14:09 French open water swimmer Aurelie Muller became the new world champion in the SPORT women’s 10k marathon with the result of 1.58:4.3. She was virtually untouchable by other competitors and her nearest opponent, Sharon van Rouwendaal of the Netherlands, finished more than two seconds behind. Not only the top three medallists rejoiced at their victory in the 10km race today. There was also the reason for joy for the top ten finishers who thus qualified as individuals for the Rio Olympic Games for the same discipline. That’s why there are traditionally more competitors in this distance than in the 5km or 25km swims. For example, today there were 57 athletes who entered the 10km event to swim 4 laps in the Kazanka River from one bank to another (the one-way race course is 1.25 kilometres), whereas two days ago there were only 41 swimmers to compete in the 5km event. However, this kind of overcrowded event has also been marked with the presence of several distinguished athletes whose athletic achievements captured experts and fans’ attention long before the FINA World Championships in Kazan. The most talked about of them are Olympic champion Eva Risztov from Hungary and reigning world champion Poliana Okimoto from Brazil. According to the experts, the race's favourites would have had to watch out for the challenge from other competitors such as newly crowned 5km open water swim champion Haley Anderson of the USA or renowned German swimmer Angela Maurer who has recently turned 40. The age is no hindrance in this event and Spyridon Gianniotis, a 35-year-old Greek open water swimmer, proved it yesterday by claiming bronze. Unfortunately, the above-mentioned favourites could not make it onto the podium this time. The gold medal now belongs to the French swimmer Aurelie Muller. Ferry Weertman, Sharon Van Rouwendaal’s compatriot who yesterday had won silver in the men’s 10km event, was rooting for the future silver medallist from the stands. Ana Marcela Cunha from Brazil is the happy owner of bronze medal. FINA Worlds 2015. Open water swimming. Women. 10km. 1. Aurelie MULLER (FRA) – 1:58:04,3 2. Sharon VAN ROUWENDAAL (NED) – 1:58:06.7 3. Ana Marcela CUNHA (BRA) – 1:58:26.5 Kazanka Venue. July 28 Press Office of Organising Committee for 16th FINA World Championships BACK TO NEWS FEED http://finaworlds2015.dspkazan.com/en/news_items/2311 Page 1 of 1.