Sharon van Rouwendaal<\/strong> clinched both the world title and an Olympic quota spot in the marathon swimming at the World Championships<\/strong> in Doha.<\/p>\n The Netherlands swimmer finished fourth at the 2023 worlds in Fukuoka, 0.10secs off the podium and automatic Olympic qualification.<\/p>\n It meant she had to secure a quota spot for the Games in Doha which she did in style, winning in 1:57:26.80 in a photo finish to claim her second world title, two years after gold at Budapest 2022.<\/p>\n Van Rouwendaal – now set for her fourth Olympics – said:<\/p>\n \u201cThe feeling of winning is very special.<\/p>\n \u201cI had told myself that I was going to be the world champion. I never say it out loud, but I kept my confidence.<\/p>\n \u201cThe greatest challenge is the conditions in water as it is open water and you never know what can happen. I had every scenario in my head and was confident that I was going to win this.<\/p>\n “Everyone kept asking me to keep my eyes on Paris but for me, I had to grab this win to level.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Maria De Valdes<\/strong> of Spain touched just behind in 1:57:26.90 to book a place at her first Games ahead of Portuguese Angelica Andre<\/strong> (1:57:28.20) with Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Ana Marcela Cunha<\/strong> touching at the same time as Moesha Johnson<\/strong> in 1:57:30.80.<\/p>\n Johnson booked Australia’s second quota spot in Paris alongside Chelsea Gubecka,\u00a0<\/strong>who won silver at the Fukuoka worlds last year, thereby clinching qualification.<\/p>\n Valdes said:<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a dream come true for me.<\/p>\n \u201cI was working for this all those years. I was out of Tokyo so I am very grateful for this result.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a very special day for me today and I dedicate this medal to my father who passed away three months ago.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is very painful and it was very hard months for me before this championship. So, this result and this medal is very important to me.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Leonie Beck<\/strong>, Gubecka<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Katie Grimes<\/strong>\u00a0 secured a ticket to Paris 2024 by virtue of finishing on the podium in Fukuoka.<\/p>\n Grimes was 15th at the Old Doha Port with Beck in 20th meaning the top 13 swimmers at Doha 2024 all earned a quota spot for Paris.<\/p>\n The hosts will have two swimmers going in the marathon swimming in the River Seine in August with Caroline Laure Jouisse<\/strong> and Oceane Cassignol<\/strong> earning two quota spots in seventh and 10th respectively.<\/p>\n Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Australia, Brazil, USA, France, Italy, Monaco, France, Japan and Hungary all claimed quota spots.<\/p>\n As well as today’s qualifiers and the Fukuoka medallist an additional representative from each of the five continents will be selected with Leah Crisp<\/strong> securing the European ticket for Great Britain.<\/p>\n\n