Ana Marcela Cunha

Who is Ana Marcela Cunha?

Ana Marcela Jesus Soares da Cunha is a Brazilian swimmer, who specializes in the open water marathon. She is considered one of the fastest professional open water swimmers in the world, winning numerous meets for the 10 km marathon at the FINA World Cup series.

At only 14 years old, she collected two gold medals at the 5 km and 10 km marathon, at the 2006 South American Games in Buenos Aires.

In 2005, she was able to reach second place in Travessia dos Fortes. Subsequently, became champion in 2006 and 2011.

Cunha qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, after placing tenth at the FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships in Seville, Spain. She became the youngest-ever swimmer to participate in the inaugural women's 10 km open water marathon, against a field of twenty-four other competitors, including her teammate Poliana Okimoto, South African amputee Natalie du Toit, British duo Keri-Anne Payne and Cassandra Patten, and sixteen-year old American Chloe Sutton. Cunha finished in a close race for fifth place, with a total time of 1:59:36.8, approximately one second ahead of Switzerland's Swann Oberson, yet nine seconds behind winner Larisa Ilchenko of Russia.