Xin wins 10-kilometer open water swim at world championships

GWANGJU, South Korea (AP) — Xin Xin of China won the women’s 10-kilometer open water event Sunday, lifting China to its fourth gold medal of the world swimming championships.

Xin finished in a time of one hour, 54 minutes, 47:20 seconds. The 22-year old, who finished fourth in the same event at the Rio Olympics, is now guaranteed a spot at next year’s Olympics in Tokyo.

Haley Anderson of the U.S. took silver, 0.90 seconds behind, and Italy’s Rachele Bruni finished third to take bronze, 1.80 seconds behind Anderson.

In a frantic finish, a large pack of swimmers jostled for one of the ten Olympic qualifying spots on offer here, with Xin and Anderson surging ahead in the final 20 meters to claim top spots on the podium.

American Ashley Twichell finished seventh to join Anderson, who won silver in London in 2012, in qualifying for Tokyo, as did reigning Olympic champion Sharon Van Rouwendaal of the Netherlands who finished tenth.

On Saturday, Kristof Rasovszky of Hungary won the men’s 5-kilometer open water event to claim the first medal of the world swimming championships, before China completed a sweep of all three diving events on the opening day.

Other open water races include a 5-kilometer team relay on Thursday and men’s and women’s races over 25 kilometers next Friday.

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