There was a friendly feel to the victory ceremonies at the Paris 2024 marathon swimming, with two of the three medallists in both the women’s and men’s races training together, and half of the athletes occupying the podium places coached by the same man.
The Netherlands' Sharon van Rouwendaal moved to the city of Magdeburg (GER) on the River Elbe four years ago to train with Bernd BERKHAHN's group and was later joined there by Australia's Moesha Johnson. Their reward for relocating to Germany was gold and silver in the women’s 10km event, VAN ROUWENDAAL powering past her friend as they came under Pont des Invalides for the last time after six punishing laps down to Pont de l’Alma and back.
“Mo (Johnson) is super good in pacing, but she’s not as experienced as I am,” said van Rouwendaal, who became the first woman to win two Olympic marathon swimming golds, having regained the title she first won at Rio 2016. “I think I taught her some stuff, but mentally, I can just push until I probably can’t move any more.”
Kristof Rasovszky of Hungary showed similar levels of power and endurance 24 hours later as he led for much of the men’s 10km race. As Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Florian Wellbrock of Germany faded, another Berkhahn protege, Oliver Klemet of Germany came closest to catching the man nicknamed The (Lake) Balaton Shark. “For some time I tickled his feet,” said KLEMET, with a smile. “He looked back and saw I was there.”
But Rasovszky was unfazed, holding off Klemet to become the second man to win two Olympic marathon swimming medals (after Thomas LURZ, GER) who won bronze in 2008 and silver in 2012) following the 27-year-old’s silver in Tokyo three years ago, with another Hungarian, David Bethlehem of Hungary taking bronze.
Rasovszky and Betlehem prepared for the Seine’s strong current by training on the Danube in Hungary.
For the full results from marathon swimming, click here.
Quote of the Games
“I vomited two times this morning before the race because of stress. I have not eaten, just drinking during the race with gels. I was thirsty at some point, I was like drinking the sand. But I’m fine. Normally, I vomit after the race.”
- van Rouwendaal on how she endured the women’s 10km
Stat of the Games
Van Rouwendaal became the first marathon swimmer to win three Olympic Games medals since the event’s debut at Beijing 2008, having sandwiched gold at Rio 2016 and Paris 2024 with silver at Tokyo 2020 in the women’s 10km.