Video interview Courtesy: FINA
American Haley Anderson won her second-straight World Championship in the open water 5km race on Saturday morning, defending her 2013 title near the banks of the Kazanka River.
In her post-race interview, Anderson says that she executed her race plan perfectly, staying in the top 5, letting someone else do the hardest work (which fell to the relatively inexperienced Sharon van Rouwendaal of the Netherlands) and then bursting to the front for victory.
She also kept her focus squarely on the biggest prize up for grabs this week: Olympic qualification in the 10km race. Anderson will swim that event on Tuesday, where the top 10 swimmers, regardless of nationality, automatically qualify for the 2012 Olympics without having to fight through next year’s Olympic qualifier.
For a full preview of this year’s open water events, click here.
Yawn.
Impressive as hell! Silver/Gold/Gold/Gold in the last 4 years of international meets starting with London between the 5K and 10K. Plus an 8:26.6 at the Olympic Trials in the 800 in 2012, not too shabby. I believe she is arguably the favorite now in the 10K, and at the very least should get her automatic qualifier for Rio. Then again anything can happen in Open Water! Best of luck to Haley! #TrojanNation
I am digging your screen name. Love it!
USC
What great news to wake up to! Congratulations, Haley! World Champion! Good luck in the 10K! You will do great.