Rio de Janeiro, Aug 23 (IANS) Brazilian swimmer Allan do Carmo held off a late challenge from Japan’s Yasunari Hirai to win the open water marathon Olympic test event here.
Do Carmo finished the 10 km course on the Copacabana beach in two hours, three minutes and 53 seconds on Saturday, just a second ahead of Hirai. The third place went to Richard Weinberger of Canada who crossed the line in 2:03.57, reports Xinhua news agency.
“The competition was tight and the conditions in the sea, rough as it was, made it even more difficult,” do Carmo said. “In these conditions, you have to have a really good sense of direction, but that’s one of my main skills.”