Legendary open water swimmer Ana Marcela Cunha won a record-extending 7th World Aquatics Open Water World Cup title two weeks ago, but says that this might be her last.
In an interview with Nick Hope, Cunha says that she is considering retirement next year.
“My first World Championship was 2006, (when I was) 14 years old, now I am 32. So it’s a long time to swim open water. I won everything…I’m really happy. For me, it’s really hard to continue because I’m really tired. But we don’t know, maybe next year I say ‘okay I can swim one more year.’
After claiming the @WorldAquatics World Cup season crown for a record-extending 7th time, 🇧🇷 legend Ana Marcela Cunha admits it might be her last.
The 32-year-old Tokyo 10km Olympic champion is considering retirement next year. Read & hear more below👇https://t.co/TiaSG5RqhI pic.twitter.com/xlzYFJkdds
— Nick Hope – the athlete’s journalist (@NickHopeTV) November 26, 2024
Cunha is arguably the most-decorated and successful athlete on the competitive side of open water swimming since it was recognized as an Olympic discipline in 2008.
She won the Olympic gold medal in the 10km race in 2020, has seven World Championship gold medals at the 5km and 25km distances, 17 total World Championship medals, gold at the Pan American Games, World Beach Games, and South American Games, the eight-time FINA/World Aquatics Open Water Swimmer of the Year, and five-time Swammy Award winner for Female Open Water Swimmer of the Year.
She has 81 total medals across FINA/World Aquatics competitions and with seven Open Water World Cup series titles has four more than the next-best competitors in history – Germany’s Angela Maurer and Italy’s Rachele Bruni with three each.
No one better at this sport than her. She is truly the GOAT of Open Water.