Poliana Okimoto (born March 8, 1983) is a Brazilian long-distance swimmer.[2][3]

Poliana Okimoto
Okimoto at the 2016 Olympics
Personal information
Nationality Brazil
Born (1983-03-08) March 8, 1983 (age 41)
São Paulo, Brazil[1]
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Weight52 kg (115 lb)[1]
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
ClubUnisanta[1]
CoachRicardo Cintra[1]
Medal record
Representing  Brazil
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Rio de Janeiro 10 km open water
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2013 Barcelona 10 km open water
Silver medal – second place 2013 Barcelona 5 km open water
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Rome 5 km open water
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Barcelona Team open water
World Open Water Championships
Silver medal – second place 2006 Naples 5 km open water
Silver medal – second place 2006 Naples 10 km open water
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 2007 Rio de Janeiro 10 km open water
Silver medal – second place 2011 Guadalajara 10 km open water

Career edit

She was at the 2002 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) in Moscow, where she finished 18th in the 800-metre freestyle.[4]

She won the Travessia dos Fortes in 2005.[3]

Okimoto competed in the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, in the first appearance of the marathon swimming, where she received the silver medal in the Women's 10K, the first Brazilian medal at this edition.[5][3]

Okimoto finished 7th[2][3] in the inaugural aquatic marathon (10 km race) at the 2008 Olympics.

She also swam at the 2008 Open Water World Championships in Seville, Spain.[6]

In 2009, Okimoto won the marathon swimming World Cup, winning 9 of 11 stages held, becoming the first Brazilian champion of the sport.[3]

At the 2009 World Aquatics Championships in Rome, obtained the bronze medal. With that, she broke a 15 years-fast for Brazil in the World Championships, and became the first Brazilian woman to win a medal in the competition's history.[7] She was considered by Época magazine one of the 100 most influential Brazilians in 2009.[8]

She was at the 2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, where she finished 20th in the 400-metre freestyle.[9]

In 2010, she broke the short-course Brazilian records of the 800-metre freestyle (8:27.77) [10] and 1500-metre freestyle (16:09.04).[11]

At the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Okimoto repeated the 2007 result, and again won the silver.[12]

In the 2012 Olympics in London Okimoto was unable to complete the race due to the water temperature, being disqualified.[2] The frustration that followed led Okimoto to clinical depression and thoughts of abandoning the sport, before being convinced otherwise by among others her husband-coach Ricardo Cintra.[13]

At the 2013 World Aquatics Championships, in Barcelona, Poliana had a historical participation. She won the silver medal in the Women's 5K race,[14] and, some days later, became the World Champion in the 10K race.[15] Finishing, in the team event, she won the bronze medal with the Brazilian team, along with Samuel de Bona and Allan do Carmo.[16][17]

On August 12, 2013, Okimoto broke the Brazilian record in the 1500-metre freestyle, with a time of 16:26.90.[18]

At the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan, Okimoto finished 6th in the 10 km marathon.[19][20]

Okimoto initially finished fourth at the 10 km race at the 2016 Olympics hosted by Brazil. A disqualification of second placed Aurélie Muller upgraded her to the bronze, making Okimoto the first Brazilian woman to win a swimming Olympic medal.[21][22]

The following year, Okimoto wound up absent of the 2017 World Championships, finishing third in the national 10 km qualifiers and skipping the 5 km ones.[23][24]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Poliana Okimoto. cob.org.br
  2. ^ a b c "Poliana Okimoto". Sports Reference. 2013. Archived from the original on January 17, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d e "World Champion Poliana Okimoto reveals phobia: 'I was scared to death of the sea'". SPORTV (in Portuguese). January 24, 2012. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  4. ^ "Results of the 800-metre freestyle at 2002 Moscow". OmegaTiming. April 4, 2002. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  5. ^ "Poliana Okimoto wins silver". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). July 14, 2007. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  6. ^ "Poliana Okimoto Honored By The Hall Of Fame - WOWSA". Open Water Swimming - World Open Water Swimming Association. Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  7. ^ "Okimoto takes bronze and breaks fasting for 15 years for Brazil in World Championships". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). July 21, 2009. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  8. ^ "Season – NEWS – the 100 most influential Brazilians in 2009". ÉPOCA (in Portuguese). December 20, 2009. Archived from the original on May 14, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  9. ^ "Results of the 400-metre freestyle at 2010 Pan Pac in Irvine". OmegaTiming. August 20, 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  10. ^ "Records' rain opens the Brazilian Swimming Short Course Championships". CBDA. September 20, 2010. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  11. ^ "Jose Finkel Trophy Meet: Kristel Kobrich Sets South American Record". Swimming World Magazine. September 26, 2010. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2010.
  12. ^ "Brazilian Poliana Okimoto bill silver in the marathon swimming". R7 (in Portuguese). October 22, 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  13. ^ Poliana Okimoto supera depressão após Olimpíadas: 'Pensei em parar'
  14. ^ "Poliana and Ana Marcela lead Brazil to the podium with silver and bronze in the 5km". SPORTV (in Portuguese). July 20, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  15. ^ "Poliana and Ana Marcela make history and won the gold and silver medals in the 10km". SPORTV (in Portuguese). July 23, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  16. ^ "Tireless, Poliana help male duo and invoice bronze by teams". SPORTV (in Portuguese). July 25, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  17. ^ "Results of the Marathon Swimming Teams at 2013 Barcelona". OmegaTiming. July 25, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  18. ^ "Poliana breaks a 12-year brazilian record". CBDA. August 12, 2013. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  19. ^ "Ana Marcela Cunha wins bronze in the 10 km marathon and guarantees the Olympic vacancy". R7 (in Portuguese). July 28, 2015. Archived from the original on July 30, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  20. ^ "Results of the 10 km marathon at 2015 Kazan". OmegaTiming. July 28, 2015. Archived from the original on February 13, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  21. ^ Dutch swimmer Van Rouwendaal wins women's 10km open water gold. Sports.yahoo.com (June 29, 2016). Retrieved on 2016-08-17.
  22. ^ Poliana Okimoto conquista o bronze na maratona aquática. Oglobo.globo.com. Retrieved on August 17, 2016.
  23. ^ Medalhista olímpica, Poliana Okimoto é superada e fica fora de Mundial
  24. ^ Poliana Okimoto não comparece à prova dos 5km e está fora do Mundial de Esportes Aquáticos

External links edit

Awards
Preceded by Brazilian Sportswomen of the Year
2013
Succeeded by
Preceded by FINA Open Water Swimmer of the Year
2013
Succeeded by