Ana Marcela Cunha

From Openwaterpedia
Ana Marcela Cunha is an inductee (Honor Swimmer) in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, Class of 2019
Ana Marcela Cunha is a nominee for the 2021 WOWSA Awards in the World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year category
Ana Marcela Cunha won her sixth FINA World Cup title in 2022, winning in in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2021, and 2022 as a 30-year-old, a run since she captured her first World Series title at the age of 18
Olympic 10K Marathon Swim gold medalist Ana Marcela Cunha was selected as the 2021 Swimming World Magazine Female Open Water Swimmer of the Year
Ana Marcela Cunha, the 2018 FINA/HOSA Marathon Swim World Series champion was named 2018 FINA Female Open Water Swimmer of the Year
Ana Marcela Cunha was nominated for the 2019 WOWSA Awards in the World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year category
Ana Marcela Cunha was nominated for the 2016 WOWSA Awards in the World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year category
Ana Marcela Cunha, winner of 9 medals at the FINA World Swimming Championships in the 5 km, 10 km and 25 km distances over her career. Photo by Deep Blue Media.
Ana Marcela Cunha was nominated for the 2018 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year by the World Open Water Swimming Association
Ana Marcela Cunha is a nominee for the 2017 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year, part of the WOWSA Awards, an annual recognition of outstanding men, women, performances and offerings around the globe sponsored by the World Open Water Swimming Association
Ana Marcela Cunha in yellow Brazilian swim cap off the starting pontoon at the 2017 FINA World Swimming Championships in the 5 km race. Photo by Deep Blue Media.
Risztov Éva of Hungary (left), Ana Marcela Cunha of Brazil (middle), and Keri-Anne Payne of Great Britain (right) at the 2015 FINA/HOSA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup race in Balatonfüred, Hungary
Wowsa-awards-594x475.jpg
World 25K Champion
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Ana Marcela
Ana Marcela

Ana de Jesus Soares da Cunha (born 24 March 1992) is a 30-year-old Brazilian open water swimmer from Bahia who is coached by Fernando Possenti. She has been a dominant open water swimmer since bursting on the international scene in 2006 between 5 km and 25 km including winning the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Honors

Open Water Swimming Highlights

2020 Tokyo Olympic Games Results

1. Ana Marcela Cunha (Brazil, 29) 1:59:30.90
2. Sharon van Rouwendaal (Netherlands, 27) 1:59:31.70
3. Kareena Lee (Australia, 27) 1:59:32.50
4. Anna Olasz (Hungary, 27) 1:59:34.80
5. Leonie Beck (Germany, 24) 1:59:35.10
6. Haley Anderson (USA, 29) 1:59:36.90
7. Ashley Twichell (USA, 32) 1:59:37.90
8. Xin Xin (China, 24) 2:00:10.10
9. Lara Grangeon de Villele (France, 29) 2:00:57.0
10. Finnia Wunram (Germany, 25) 2:01:01.90
11. Samantha Arévalo (Ecuador, 26) 2:01:30.60
12. Cecilia Biagioli (Argentina, 36) 2:01:31.70
13. Yumi Kida (Japan, 36) 2:01:40.90
14. Rachele Bruni (Italy, 30) 2:02:10.20
15. Anastasiia Kirpichnikova (Russian Olympic Committee, 21) 2:03:17.50
16. Paula Ruiz Bravo (Spain, 22) 2:03:17.60
17. Angelica Andre (Portugal, 26) 2:04:40.70
18. Kate Farley Sanderson (Canada, 21) 2:04:59.10
19. Alice Dearing (Great Britain, 24) 2:05:03.20
20. Paola Perez (Venezuela, 30) 2:05:45.00
21. Michelle Weber (South Africa, 24) 2:06:56.50
22. Krystyna Panchishko (Ukraine, 23) 2:07:35.10
23. Li-Shan Chantal Liew (Singapore, 22) 2:08:17.90
24. Spela Perse (Slovenia, 25) 2:08:33.00
25. Souad Nefissa Cherouati (Algeria, 32) 2:17:21.60

2008 Beijing Olympic Games Results

Gold: Larisa Ilchenko (Russia) 1:59:27.7
Silver: Keri-Anne Payne (Great Britain) 1:59:29.2
Bronze: Cassandra Patten (Great Britain) 1:59:31.0
4. Angela Maurer (Germany) 1:59:31.9
5. Ana Marcela Cunha (Brazil) 1:59:36.8
6. Swann Oberson (Switzerland) 1:59:36.9
7. Poliana Okimoto (Brazil) 1:59:37.4
8. Jana Pechanová (Czech Republic) 1:59:39.7
9. Andreína del Valle Pinto Pérez (Venezuela) 1:59:40.0
10. Martina Grimaldi (Italy) 1:59:42.3
11. Marianna Lymperta (Greece) 1:59:42.3
12. Teja Zupan (Slovenia) 1:59:43.7
14. Yurema Requena (Spain) 1:59:46.9
14. Edith van Dijk (Netherlands) 2:00:02.8
15. Melissa Gorman (Australia) 2:00:33.6
16. Natalie du Toit South Africa 2:00:49.9
16. Daniela Inácio (Portugal) 2:00:59.0
18. Eva Berglund (Sweden) 2:01:05.0
19. Fang Yanqiao (China) 2:01:07.9
20. Imelda Martínez (Mexico) 2:01:07.9
21. Aurelie Muller (France) 2:02:04.1
22. Chloe Sutton (United States) 2:02:13.6
24. Natalya Samorodina (Ukraine) 2:10:41.6
24. Antonella Bogarin (Argentina) 2:11:35.9
Kristel Köbrich (Chile) DNF

FINA World Championships (Kazan)

Information in Portuguese

  • Nome completo: Ana Marcela de Jesus Soares da Cunha
  • Data de nascimento: 24 de março de 1992
  • Local de nascimento: Salvador/Bahia
  • Peso: 66 kg
  • Altura: 1,65 m
  • Clube atual: Unisanta, Santos (São Paulo)
  • Técnico atual: Prof. Márcio Latuf
  • Ídolos na natação: Gustavo Borges e Clodoaldo Silva
  • Ídolos no esporte: Lars Grael
  • Início na natação: Por iniciativa de minha mãe, que ficava preocupada e tinha medo porque eu era uma criança hiperativa e tinha uma piscina na Escolinha e Creche Pimpolho, onde eu era aluna e aprendi a nadar aos dois anos de idade com o professor Adriano.
  • Melhores amigos: Meus pais, as gêmeas Michelle e Moyra, Fernanda Góes, Luiza Barba, Izabelle Guarnieri
  • Hobbies: Internet, praia, passear no shopping
  • Países que mais gostou de conhecer: Portugal (Ilha da Madeira), Grécia e Austrália
  • Locais que mais gostou de competir: Portugal (em piscina na Ilha da Madeira e em maratonas em Setúbal, por duas vezes) e Espanha (Sevilha)
  • Competição inesquecível: Seletiva olímpica de 10 km em Sevilha, Espanha, culminando com a classificação para Beijing
  • Fato marcante na carreira: A ida ao Unisanta e o 5º lugar na Olimpíada de Pequim/2008
  • Planos para o futuro: conquistar uma medalha olímpica

World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year Nominations

Cunha was nominated for the 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year by the World Open Water Swimming Association.

2021 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year Nomination

She was nominated for the 2021 World Open Water Swimming Women of the Year Award. The winners and nominees of this category in the 2021 WOWSA Awards include:

Winner: Kate Steels (Great Britain)
First Runner-up: Elaine Burrows Dillane (Ireland)
Second Runner-up: Abhejali Bernardová (Czech Republic)
4. Mayra Santos (Brazil)
5. Merle Liivand (Estonia)
6. Shu Pu (Hong Kong)
7. Sarah Thomas (USA)
8. Amy Ennion (Great Britain)
9. Lexie Kelly (USA)
10. Maria Cotignolo (Uruguay)
11. Chloë McCardel (Australia)
12. Ana Marcela Cunha (Brazil)
13. Abigail Fairman (USA)
14. Kerry Kopke (South Africa)
15. Carina Bruwer (South Africa)

2020 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year Nomination

Cunha was nominated for the 2020 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year award with the following WOWSA Awards nomination:

Since first busting out on the international scene in 2006 as a 14-year-old, Ana Marcela Jesus Soares da Cunha has constantly maintained her success and passion for swimming. She has won world titles in 2011 (25 km), 2015 (25 km), 2017 (25 km), and 2019 (5 km and 25 km) while being named FINA's top open water swimmer 6 times. In 2020, she moved to Portugal as part of Brazil's Mission Europe program that enabled her to continue training and competing. She competed in the French Open Water Championships (3rd in 10 km, 1st in 5 km), the 36 km Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli (2nd), and the only FINA/CNSG Marathon Swim World Series event (2nd). Upon her return home to Brazil, she won the 10 km Madeira Island Ultra Swim and the 10 km Super Challenge at the Rei e Rainha do Mar. For always competing against and being competitive with the world's best elite racers, for coming back from having her spleen removed in 2016, and for her constant smile and affable spirit in racing around the world, Ana Marcela Cunha of Brazil is a worthy nominee for the 2020 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.

2019 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year Nomination

Cunha was nominated for the 2019 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year award with the following nomination:

There is no one more active on the professional marathon swimming scene than 27-year-old Ana Marcela Cunha from São Paolo. She remains a force to be reckoned with under any conditions – warm or cold, turbulent or tranquil – anywhere (Asia, Americas, Europe) any distance anytime against anyone. Her consistency is so remarkable that it is more noteworthy when Cunha is not on the podium than when she is. Over a 6-day span at 2019 FINA World Championships, Cunha qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games by finishing 5th in the 10 km on Day 1, won the 5 km on Day 4, led off 4th place Team Brazil in the 5 km relay on Day 5, and then won her fourth career 25 km marathon on Day 6 (after winning in 2011, 2015 and 2017). She also won the Pan American Games 10 km in Lima. She also won the 10 km race in Taiwan's Sun Moon Lake and finished 2nd in the FINA/CNSG Marathon Swim World Series after winning races in Nantou (China), Setúbal Bay (Portugal), and Lake Ohrid (North Macedonia). For being the most dominant open water swimmer at the FINA World Championships, for coming back to world-class stature after a serious health scare where her spleen was removed, and for her constant smile and affable spirit in racing around the world despite long flights and sponsor demands, Ana Marcela Cunha of Brazil is a worthy nominee for the 2019 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.

2016 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year Nominees

Cunha was nominated for the 2016 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year by the World Open Water Swimming Association:

1. Katherine Batts (Great Britain)
2. Dr. Caroline Block (USA)
4. Arianna Bridi (Italy)
4. Chloë McCardel (Australia)
5. Ana Marcela Cunha (Brazil)
6. Pat Gallant-Charette (USA)
6. Ludmila Maller (Russia)
8. Jaimie Monahan (USA)
9. Aurélie Muller (France)
10. Barbara Pozzobón (Italy)
11. Sarah Thomas (USA)
12. Julia Wittig (Germany)

International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame induction (Portuguese)

Nadadora honrada: Ana Marcela Cunha do Brasil conquistou um total de seis medalhas solo no Campeonato Mundial de Natação da FINA: três ouros nos 25 km em 2011, 2015 e 2016; uma prata nos 10 km em 2014 e dois bronzes nos 10 km em 2015 e 2016. Ela também conquistou um total incrível de 42 medalhas nos eventos da FINA World Series. Ana continua sendo uma nadadora dominante, em todas as distâncias, em 11 anos de competição elite na FINA. Suas principais premiações incluem: melhor nadadora de águas abertas em 2010, 2014, 2015 e 2016; campeã do Circuito Mundial 10 km em 2010, 2012 e 2014 e campeã do Circuito Mundial 25 km em 2011, 2015 e 2016. Em 2014, Ana bateu o recorde nos 46 km de Capri Napoli com 6 horas 24 minutos 46 segundos. Os tempos de nenhuma outra nadadora chegam perto de 5 minutos do recorde dela. Nas Olimpíadas ela ficou em 10o lugar em 2016 e 5o em 2008. Ana continua treinando para as próximas Olimpíadas. Embora sua indução seja baseada somente na sua carreira como nadadora de maratona solo (definida como 10 km ou mais), ela também conquistou orgulhosamente quatro outras medalhas no Campeonato Mundial da FINA na distância de 5 km e também no revezamento.

2018 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year Nomination

Ana Marcela Cunha is flat-out fast and non-stop: traveling, competing and medalling around the world. The two-time Olympian is on track to win her fourth career FINA/HOSA Marathon Swim World Series title (after winning in 2010, 2012 and 2014) while winning 4 FINA UltraMarathon Swim Series titles in 2011, 2015 and 2016. The newly inducted International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer won several races from her native Brazil to FINA/HOSA Marathon Swim World Series races in Hungary and Canada. Her victory in Canada's lac St-Jean was her incredible 20th career FINA/HOSA Marathon Swim World Series victory, a clear indication of her long-running success in the open water. For never backing down from a challenge including a mano-a-mano race against the 2016 Olympic 10K gold medalist at the Rio Negro Champions Challenge and the Olympic silver medalist at the 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Japan and at the LEN Open Water Cup in France, for coming back from having her spleen removed in 2016, and for her constant smile and affable spirit in racing around the world despite long flights and sponsor demands, Ana Marcela Cunha of Brazil is a worthy nominee for the 2018 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.

2016 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year Nomination

Ana Marcela Cunha is flat-out fast and non-stop: traveling, competing and medaling around the world. She finished 12th in the FINA World Cup race in the UAE, 5th in the FINA World Cup race in Argentina, 5th in the FINA World Cup race in Portugal, 2nd in the FINA World Cup race in Canada, 1st in the FINA World Cup race in lac Mégantic, Canada, 1st in FINA World Cup race in China, 1st in the Campeonato Brasileiro de Aguas Abertas Brasilia, 1st in the 46 km Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli in Italy. Additionally, she earned three podium positions at the 2016 FINA World Championships in Hungary and finished 6th in the team race to bring her career total to 9 world championship medals. For winning gold in the 25 km race and bronze in the 5 km and 10 km races in the world championships, for coming back from having her spleen removed in an early-season surgery to finish second overall in the 2016 FINA/HOSA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup circuit, for her constant smile and affable spirit despite long flights, tough conditions and blistering fast races, Ana Marcela Cunha is a worthy nominee for the 2016 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.

2014 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year Nominees

Cunha was nominated for the 2014 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year by the World Open Water Swimming Association:

1. Ana Marcela Cunha (Brazil), FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup Champion
2. Bhakti Sharma (India), Marathon Swimmer & Educational Reformist
4. Carina Bruwer (South Africa), Freestyling Flautist
4. Chloë McCardel (Australia), Marathon Swimmer & Coach
5. Colleen Mallon (Ireland), Channel Swimmer & Volunteer
6. Elaine Howley (USA), Communicator, Organizer, Swimmer
6. Kimberley Chambers (New Zealand), Oceans Seven Swimmer
8. Nataliya Fatyanova, M.D. (Russia), Ice Swimming Researcher & Physician
9. Pilar Geijo (Argentina), FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix Co-Champion
10. Sharon van Rouwendaal (Netherlands), 2-time European Champion
11. Sylvia Rybárová (Czech Republic), FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix Co-Champion
12. Susan Simmons (Canada), Marathon Swimmer with Multiple Sclerosis

2014 World Open Water Swimming Association Nomination

"Ana Marcela Cunha was consistently competitive throughout the year in all corners of the world. She is tenaciously tough in myriad conditions, warm and cold, rough and calm, fresh and salt. She is always spectacularly speedy down the finish against the world's fastest swimmers. The world champion competes with a broad smile on her face and a deep appreciation in her heart. With a deep-seated pride to represent her native Brazil well, she joyfully does local and won her third FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup series title by swimming 8 pro marathons around the world from January to October. She garnered 5 victories in a row from Portugal to China and always finished on the podium. Air miles, jet lag, time zone differences: none played a role in slowing the Olympian down. For her boundless joy in traveling around the world to race all-comers, for her repeated victories against the world's best, for her constant smile before and after races, Ana Marcela Cunha is a worthy nominee for the 2014 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year."

2012 World Open Water Swimming Association Nomination

"Ana Marcela Cunha was consistently competitive throughout the year in all corners of the world. She is tenaciously tough in myriad conditions, warm and cold, rough and calm, fresh and salt. She is always spectacularly speedy down the finish against the world's fastest swimmers. And the reigning 25K world champion does it with a broad smile on her face and a deep appreciation in her heart. With a pride to represent her native country well, the Brazilian Olympian does local races, domestic series, and won her second FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup series title by swimming 8 pro marathons around the world from January to October. She garnered 4 victories in Israel, Mexico, Hong Kong and China as well as a second, two thirds and a sixth in Argentina, Brazil and Canada. Air miles, jet lag, time zone differences: none played a role in slowing the juggernaut down. For her boundless joy in traveling the world to race all-comers, for her victories against the world's best, for her constant smile before and after races, Ana Marcela Cunha is a worthy nominee for the 2012 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.

Sponsors

Os patrocinadores

  • Universidade Santa Cecília - UNISANTA

A Universidade Santa Cecília - UNISANTA, primeira do ranking nacional no gênero, pela sua excelente estrutura física e através de um corpo técnico altamento especializado, além de disponibilizar os recursos financeiros, educacionais e outros de igual relevância, executa um criterioso programa de treinamento que possibilita o desenvolvimento e o aperfeiçoamento das aptidões da atleta em busca de resultados cada vez mais expressivos. Tudo isso faz a aluna-atleta Ana Marcela dizer com orgulho: Eu sou do Santa!

  • O patrocínio dos Correios/CBDA tem sido fundamental no suporte financeiro à atleta, através de ajuda de custo mensal, e também nas despesas com viagens internacionais representando o Brasil em competições de nível mundial.
  • Ana Marcela assina contrato com a Speedo, passando a utilizar os excelentes produtos da marca, agregando tanto nos treinos como nas competições a tecnologia de ponta que faz da Speedo a maior vencedora em mundiais e olimpíadas. Ana Marcela e Speedo, rumo a Londres 2012!

FINA Global Award

She won the FINA Female Open Water Swimmer of the Year 4 separate times. Her honor in 2015 was based on her 4-medal performance at the 2015 FINA World Swimming Championships in Kazan, Russia: silver in 5 km team pursuit, bronze in the 10 km Olympic qualifier, and gold in the 25 km marathon swim.








2016 Olympic 10K Marathon Swim Results

Gold Sharon Van Rouwendaal (Netherlands) 1:56:42.1
Silver Rachele Bruni (Italy) 1:56:49.5
Bronze: Poliana Okimoto (Brazil) 1:56:51.4
4. Xin Xin (China) 1:56:14.4
5. Haley Anderson (United States) 1:56:20.2
6. Isabelle Härle (Germany) 1:56:22.1
6. Keri-Anne Payne (Great Britain) 1:56:24.9
8. Anastasia Krapivina (Russia) 1:56:25.9
9. Samantha Arevalo (Ecuador) 1:56:26.2
10. Ana Marcela Cunha (Brazil) 1:56:29.0
11. Kalliopi Araouzou (Greece) 1:56:41.6
12. Yumi Kida (Japan) 1:56:45.2
14. Éva Risztov (Hungary) 1:56:42.8
14. Anna Olasz (Hungary) 1:56:45.5
15. Chelsea Gubecka (Australia) 1:58:12.6
16. Spela Perse (Slovenia) 1:58:59.6
16. Erika Villaecija (Spain) 1:59:04.8
18. Michelle Weber (South Africa) 1:59:05.0
19. Jana Pechanova (Czech Republic) 1:59:06.6
20. Paola Perez (Venezuela) 1:59:06.6
21. Heidi Gan (Malaysia) 1:59:06.9
22. Joanna Zachoszcz (Poland) 1:59:20.4
24. Stephanie Horner (Canada) 1:59:22.1
24. Vânia Neves (Portugal) 2:01:49.4
25. Reem Mohamed Husein Elsayed Kaseem (Egypt) 2:05:19.1
DSQ Aurélie Muller (France)

2020 Olympic 10K Marathon Swim Qualifiers

Cunha qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games at the 2019 FINA World Swimming Championships 10 km marathon swim held in Yeosu EXPO Ocean Park in Gwangju, South Korea on 14 July 2019:

1. Xin Xin (China) 1:54:47.20
2. Haley Anderson (USA) 1:54:48.10
3. Rachele Bruni (Italy) 1:54:49.90
4. Lara Grangeon (France) 1:54:50.00
5. Ana Marcela Cunha (Brazil) 1:54:50.50
6. Ashley Twichell (USA) 1:54:50.50
7. Kareena Lee (Australia) 1:54:50.50
8. Finnia Wunram (Germany) 1:54:50.70
9. Leonie Beck (Germany) 1:54:51.00
10. Sharon van Rouwendaal (Netherlands) 1:54:51.10

2020 Tokyo Olympic 10K Marathon Swim Finalists

1. Xin Xin (China)
2. Haley Anderson (USA)
3. Rachele Bruni (Italy)
4. Lara Grangeon (France)
5. Ana Marcela Cunha (Brazil)
6. Ashley Twichell (USA)
7. Kareena Lee (Australia)
8. Finnia Wunram (Germany)
9. Leonie Beck (Germany)
10. Sharon van Rouwendaal (Netherlands)
11. Anna Olasz (Hungary)
12. Paula Ruiz Bravo (Spain)
13. Kate Sanderson (Canada)
14. Alice Dearing (Great Britain)
15. Angelica Andre (Portugal)
16. Cecilia Biagioli (Argentina)
17. Anastasia Kirpichnikova (Russian)
18. Samantha Arevalo (Ecuador)
19. Spela Perse (Slovenia)
20. Yumi Kida (Japan)
21. Michelle Weber (South Africa)
22. Paola Perez (Venezuela)
23. Krystyna Panchishko (Ukraine)
24. Li-Shan Chantal Liew (Singapore)
25. Souad Nefissa Cherouati (Algeria)

2016 Rio Olympic Games Marathon Swim Coverage

2020 Tokyo Olympic Games Marathon Swim Coverage

External links

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