Hungary's Eva Risztov won a gripping Olympic women's swimming marathon by just 0.4 seconds at London's Hyde Park on Thursday. The 26-year-old led for much of the 10km race in the Serpentine lake but she finished only marginally ahead of America's Haley Anderson with a winning time of 1hr 57min 38.2sec.
Italy's Martina Grimaldi took bronze and home favourite Keri-Anne Payne was fourth, with the top four separated by just four seconds. Risztov, 26, competed in the pool at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics before retiring in 2005, only to return to the sport as a marathon specialist in 2009. "I saw that Haley was coming, but I had enough energy in reserve to reach the finish," said Risztov. "It is really hard to take in but in a few hours I will be much more happy because I'm really, really, really tired now." Risztov succeeded Russia's Larisa Ilchenko, who won the inaugural women's event in Beijing four years ago but was not competing in London.
Great Britain's Payne, a silver medallist in Beijing, was bidding to win a first swimming gold medal of the Games for the host nation but finished off the podium. "I tried absolutely everything I could," said a tearful Payne. "It didn't quite go the way I was hoping for it to go, but I can't be upset with it. Whatever's meant to be is meant to be, and I guess I was meant to be fourth today." The race began beneath bright sunshine, with hats and sun block the order of the day as a huge crowd descended upon Hyde Park to cheer on Payne.
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