Anna Olasz Wins Olympic Open Water Qualifier: Alice Dearing Makes History

Anna Olasz: Photo courtesy: FINA

Anna Olasz won the women’s Olympic 10k open water qualifier in Setubal, Portugal as 15 swimmers claimed their place in the event in Tokyo in August.

Olasz won silver in the 10k at last month’s European Championships in Budapest, the Hungarian woman pipped by Olympic champion Sharon van Rouwendaal in a sprint finish.

The 27-year-old took the win in 2:01.55.4 ahead of Spain’s Paola Ruiz Bravo (2:01.57.9) and Canada’s Kate Sanderson (2:01.58.4).

In fourth was Alice Dearing who will become the first black woman to swim for Britain at the Olympics.

Fifteen spots were available: the first nine were distributed to national federations with one spot per country.

The best Japanese automatically qualified as host of the Olympic Games and the remaining four spots were split among continents (1x Africa, Europe, Asia, America).

Olasz told fina.com:

“I came here in 2012 for the qualification but I came third and just missed the Olympic Games because I was the second Hungarian.

“But today is my second Olympic qualification and I definitely didn’t want to live the same experience as last time so I really wanted to win. I managed to do so, so I am extremely happy right now!

“This was probably one of the toughest races of my life. All 47 of us wanted to make the selection and there were another two really good girls from Hungary so I knew I had to be the best Hungarian.

“That was probably the hardest part. But nevertheless I was really confident and I had a really good training period behind me that backed me up.”

Silver medallist Ruiz said:

“I feel really good. It was a really fast race but I am very happy with the result. I love this place because the temperature is great and I like the swimsuit. We had a little bit of wind but I love the waves. I am so happy!”

“When I touched the pad, I couldn’t believe it! It was unreal and I was crying but overall very happy.”

RANKINGS AND CLASSIFIED ATHLETES

Anna Olasz (HUN) – qualified
Paula Ruiz Bravo (ESP) – qualified
Kate Sanderson (CAN) – qualified
Alice Dearing (GBR) – qualified
Angelica Andre (POR) – qualified
Maria De Valdes (ESP) – not qualified
Cecilia Biagioli (ARG) – qualified
Anastasia Kirpichnikova (RUS) – qualified
Samantha Arevalo (ECU) – qualified
Mafalda Rosa (POR) – not qualified
Spela Perse (SLO) – qualified
Yumi Kida (JPN) – qualified
Danielle Huskisson (GBR) – not qualified
Reka Rohacs (HUN) – not qualified
Michelle Weber (RSA) – qualified

CONTINENTAL QUALIFICATION

Paola Perez (VEN) – America
Krystyna Panchishko (UKR) – Europe
Li-Shan Chantal Liew (SGP) – Asia
Souad Nefissa Cherouati (ALG) – Africa

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