World Aquatics Championships Doha: Sharon van Rouwendaal Clinches Open Water Title & Ticket To Paris
Sharon van Rouwendaal clinched both the world title and an Olympic quota spot in the marathon swimming at the World Championships in Doha.
The Netherlands swimmer finished fourth at the 2023 worlds in Fukuoka, 0.10secs off the podium and automatic Olympic qualification.
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.
Van Rouwendaal – now set for her fourth Olympics – said:
“The feeling of winning is very special.
“I had told myself that I was going to be the world champion. I never say it out loud, but I kept my confidence.
“The 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.
“Everyone kept asking me to keep my eyes on Paris but for me, I had to grab this win to level.”
Maria De Valdes of Spain touched just behind in 1:57:26.90 to book a place at her first Games ahead of Portuguese Angelica Andre (1:57:28.20) with Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Ana Marcela Cunha touching at the same time as Moesha Johnson in 1:57:30.80.
Johnson booked Australia’s second quota spot in Paris alongside Chelsea Gubecka, who won silver at the Fukuoka worlds last year, thereby clinching qualification.
Valdes said:
“This is a dream come true for me.
“I was working for this all those years. I was out of Tokyo so I am very grateful for this result.
“It was a very special day for me today and I dedicate this medal to my father who passed away three months ago.
“It 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.”
Leonie Beck, Gubecka and Katie Grimes secured a ticket to Paris 2024 by virtue of finishing on the podium in Fukuoka.
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.
The hosts will have two swimmers going in the marathon swimming in the River Seine in August with Caroline Laure Jouisse and Oceane Cassignol earning two quota spots in seventh and 10th respectively.
Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Australia, Brazil, USA, France, Italy, Monaco, France, Japan and Hungary all claimed quota spots.
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 securing the European ticket for Great Britain.