See Anna Marcella Kona’s path to conquest in Tokyo

The Brazilian national anthem was played again in Japan. Ana Marcella Cunha took the country’s first gold medal in the Open Water Marathon On Wednesday morning local time (Tuesday night in Brazil) after experiencing a whirlwind of emotions between sessions and Olympic Games.

Bayana of Salvador, the 29-year-old swimmer, is one of the greatest names in the sport, with 11 World Cup medals, five of which are titles. But the dream of Olympic conquest was still lost. Now there is no more.

Ana Marcella arrived as one of the top candidates for the race and won the 10km marathon with a time of 1 hour 59 minutes 30 seconds 08. But to live the golden glory, Salvador had to overcome the frustrations and shocks of other years.

Dutchman Sharon van Ruandal and Australian Karina Lee completed the podium (Photo: Satiro Sodré/CBDA)

Regarded as a promise from a young age, she competed in her first Olympics in 2008, in Beijing, when she was just 16 years old. Despite his young age, it was one of the tournament’s surprises when he finished fifth, filling the country with hope for the 2012 London Olympics.

+ Gold in the water marathon! Watch what you missed at night and the dawn of the Olympic Games

Four years later, the Brazilian failed to qualify for the UK. Disappointment became the impetus to seek a place for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, in 2016. She earned it, along with her compatriot Poliana Okimoto – who won the bronze medal.

Despite nepotism, coming from a world title in 2015, Ana Marcella finished the marathon in tenth place. After the race, she regretted, said her attitude “wasn’t decent” and stated that she didn’t have the food to replace fluids during the stage.

The Tokyo Olympics began in horror. After discovering an autoimmune disease, he had to undergo surgery. With the need for a splenectomy, to avoid possible complications in the future, she returned.

– finally! When I was young in 2008, this was my fourth Olympics. Coming from a very big disappointment due to a lack of rating, frustration in Rio. Believe in your dreams – Anna Marcella told “Rede Globo” after the race.

– I would like to thank my club, my parents, my girlfriend … I dreamed a lot about an Olympic medal, but it means a lot to be a champion. All the Brazilian medalists encouraged me a lot, especially Scheffer and Bruno. It is a line, an opportunity, as they say – completed.

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Ana Marcela hugs coach Fernando Busente (Photo: OLI SCARFF / AFP)

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There are no fish left on the road
During the race, Anna Marcella came to take fifth place, but did not give up. In the third round, the Brazilian dispensed with food, which hurt her in Rio 2016, but this time the result was worth it.

The Bahia woman left everyone behind to get the medal. Even those who were in their natural environment stayed away from the road. At a certain point in the race, it was possible to observe, through the lenses of photographer Jonne Roriz, of the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB), a fish jumping out of the water. The picture spread and spread around the world.

Anna Marcella left everyone behind (Photo: Jonne Roriz/COB)

If even those who have the right to remain in the water during the race could not, then no other opponent would have prevented the Brazilian from winning the long-awaited gold medal.

* Trainee under the supervision of Yegor Ojeda.

Watch the MEDA Tokyo Olympic Games table