(BEIJING, August 19) -- Russian open water superstar Larisa Ilchenko will enter the Women's 10km Marathon swimming race as overwhelming favorite to take gold, in an event making its Olympic debut at Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park on Wednesday, August 20.
Ilchenko has dominated open water swimming since 2004, winning five consecutive 5km world championships and three consecutive 10km races. Given her ability to win in all water conditions and temperatures, she should adapt quickly to the warm shallow waters of the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park. The nineteen-year-old athlete often chooses to sit behind the leaders and make a move in the last kilometer, so should relish the calm conditions and be able to swim the race on her terms.
Cassandra Patten of Great Britain burst on to the scene with a surprise silver medal at the 2007 world championships in Melbourne, Australia. A brave performance saw her lose a sprint to the line by only one second against the seemingly unbeatable Ilchenko. She also claimed silver to Ilchenko earlier this year at the world championships in Seville. Patten finished in eighth position in Final of the Women's 800m Freestyle event at Beijing 2008.
The experienced Angela Maurer of Germany will also be in strong medal contention. Her performance to claim fourth place at the 2007 world championships was far better than it looked on paper. She swam most of the race trapped in the rough conditions of the main pack but fell short of the leaders by only a few seconds. Maurer was the 25km gold medalist at the 2006 world championships in Italy.
Other top contenders also include Jana Pechanova of the Czech Republic, a silver medalist at the 2004 world championships and consistent performer over the 5km, 10km and 25km disciplines. Spain's Yurema Requena and Brazil's Poliana Okimoto could also challenge for a medal after strong 2008 seasons.
South Africa's Natalie du Toit became the first amputee to qualify for the Olympic Games when she booked her place in the Women's 10km Marathon event. The 2002 South African Sportswoman of the Year finished fourth in the 2008 10km open water world championships in Spain and may find herself in medal contention. Toit won five gold medals in the pool at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.
The oldest competitor is 35-year-old Edith van Dijk of the Netherlands, a two-time 10km open water world champion who finished a disappointing 11th in the 2008 world championships; her experience could put pressure on the leaders.
The youngest competitor 16-year-old American Chloe Sutton, who has improved tremendously of late over the 5km discipline, and a strong 2007 10km World Cup campaign suggests she is ready go the extra distance.
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