Martina Grimaldi clinches Women’s 10km gold medal – Marathon Swimming World Cup 2012, Santos
Italian veteran, Martina Grimaldi served notice of her talent by outperforming her competitors in the Women’s 10km swim at the 2012 Marathon Swimming World Cup in Santos, Brazil on Sunday, January 29.
Brazil is the first leg of eight-stop Marathon Cup, which is scheduled by the international aquatic sports organising body, Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA).
The 23-year-old Grimaldi remained prominent for top spot of the race from the beginning. She faced immense battle from her competitors, Angela Maurer of Germany and Ana Marcela Cunha of Brazil, throughout the 10km swim, but proved her urgency towards the finishing end by claiming gold medal.
She captured a silver medal in the 10km discipline at the 2011 Shanghai World Championships. Earlier, she won a bronze in the same event at the 2009 Rome World Championships while finished tenth in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. She also occupied gold medal of the 10km race at the 2011 European Championships in Eilat, Israel.
With the help of her incredible endurance and long-strokes, Grimaldi remained in a prominent lead over her competitors. She remained almost a body length ahead of her strongest competitor, Maurer during the 10km swim.
The Italian expert made her way through the finishing line in a time of 2 hours, 22 minutes and 23.94 seconds for the crown of the event. She remained nearly two seconds ahead of the 36-year-old Maurer, who swam through the finishing mark with an effort of 2 hours, 22 minutes and 25.50 seconds and finished second.
The third finest spot of the race was secured by Marcela Cunha, who stayed 2.94 seconds slower from her former finisher and accomplished bronze medal of the event by submitting an effort of 2 hours, 22 minutes and 28.44 seconds.
The spectators went wild with the breath-taking efforts of all open water swimmers in the opening race of the tournament. In addition, the winners were called upon the medal rostrum for their relentless efforts after the session.
Furthermore, these open water athletes will face each other at the next stop of Marathon Cup in Viedma, Argentina on Saturday, February 4, 2012.
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