2017 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- July 14 – July 30
- Budapest, Hungary
- Meet Central
- Full Schedule
- Women’s 10k Results
After a big win from Marc-Antoine Olivier in the men’s 5k on Saturday, the French did it again on Sunday as Aurelie Muller defended her title in winning the women’s 10k.
Muller won the World title in 2015, and then was disqualified last summer in Rio after initially finishing in the silver medal position. There was no controversy this time, as she won by over three seconds in 2:00:13.70.
Ecuador’s Samantha Arevalo made a big improvement to win the silver medal in 2:00:17.00. She was 12th in Kazan and 9th at the Olympics, and now adds a second major medal to her trophy case after winning bronze at the Pan Ams in 2015.
Incredibly, the race for bronze garnered a tie, as Italy’s Arianna Bridi and Brazil’s Ana Marcela Cunha registered identical times of 2:00:17.20. Bridi didn’t compete in the 10k in either Kazan or Rio, but did win bronze in the event at the 2016 European Championships. Like Muller, Cunha equals her result from two years ago with the bronze medal.
The more experienced Italian, Rachele Bruni, finished 5th in 2:00:21.40. Bruni was 4th in Kazan, silver in Rio, and tied with Muller for the European title last year. American Haley Anderson was 6th (2:00:25.90).
TOP 10
- Aurelie Muller, FRA, 2:00:13.70
- Samantha Arevalo, ECU, 2:00:17.00
- (T-3) Arianna Bridi, ITA, 2:00:17.20
- (T-3) Ana Marcela Cunha, BRA, 2:00:17.20
- Rachele Bruni, ITA, 2:00:21.40
- Haley Anderson, USA, 2:00:25.90
- Finnia Wunram, GER, 2:00:26.10
- Anna Olasz, HUN, 2:00:28.40
- Chelsea Gubecka, AUS, 2:00:30.00
- Ashley Twichell, USA, 2:00:41.30
American Ashley Twichell, who dominated the 10k at U.S. Nationals in May, finished 10th. Surprisingly, Olympic champ and 2015 silver medalist Sharon van Rouwendaal found herself over 1:40 off the pace, placing 16th in 2:01:55.50. van Rouwendaal was near the front for most of the race, sitting in 2nd about an hour and 20 minutes in, but fell off the pace at the end.
Congratulations to Olivier, Muller and Philippe Lucas, coach of both in Narbone, Southern France. He is also the coach of Van Rouwendaal, at least before Rio.
Yes a well-known figure in France !
He trains in Montpellier now. And is still the coach of SVR.
Exactly Bobo, thanks.
Did he have Femke for a while too?
Does he have Polina Egorova ? . I noticed her in a meet in France ( about Feb ) swimmiing the 800 & 1500 in one session . For some reason I thought that would only be Lucas team!
Anna & Valeriya Egorova are at Montpellier, where Bobo said Lucas is now. Think you mean Anna? Polina is very much a 50-200 kinda girl and I’m not sure she trains in France.
Thanks . As a backstroker she wouldn’t go wrong with Lucas but I’m still impressed with that 800/1500 double . It’s the idea behind it where a swimmer says – wow that’s cool I’ll try that .
Are France focussing on OW? Seems odd… So much talent in the lake, so little in the pool… What’s going on over there?
Just the end of a beautiful era in the pool. There is actually no swimming tradition in France, unlike some other european countries such as Hungary or the Netherlands. We’ll see what the future has in store…
French swimmers have been often in finals since at least 1988( Stephane Carron 100 freestyler) …so there is a tradition but they seem to be stuck in a huge pit …..
True for men but not too much for women. Only Laure Manaudou and Camille Muffat have had really distinguished careers in the sport.
Figues? Maracineanu? Metella? Even Alena Popchanka was pretty reliable for a final, after switching from BLR.
Perhaps not the 2008-2012 boom, but France had a few world & Olympic medallists (and Champs) on the female side. Looks really bare at the minute. Even in 2004, France had 3 female freestyle medallists (Metella, Figues & Manaudou).
I know but that didn’t last very long. That’s why I said I felt we lacked this sense of tradition that is carried through decades. Still you’re right, all the swimmers you mentioned have had great results.
I guess consistency is not part of our DNA
Bobo must be happy about this one.
I don’t know anything about open water but yes, it’s cool. Let’s enjoy these moments. It will be less funny in the pool for French swimming. Congrats to Aurélie for her perseverance after Rio and to her famous coach. Lucas’ magic again.
Logan Fontaine was great.
Well, at least France is winning in Open Water … You won’t see that in the pool.