What we learned: Marathon swimming highlights from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Marathon swimming was not for the faint hearted at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, in 2021.

A blazing sun, high winds, and drenching humidity made the grueling 10km swim as much of a mental challenge, as it was a physical one. Strategy became everything, as organisers brought the start times forward to 06:30 JST, hoping to beat the heat..

The changes helped, and the races were enthralling to the end, as Ana Marcela Cunha and Florian Wellbrock landed well-deserved victories after their impressive sprint finishes.

Below, we take a look back at the most memorable moments from the competition, recap who won the medals, and highlight who to look out for at Paris 2024 in just three years' time.

Top 5 marathon swimming moments at Tokyo 2020 in 2021

Here are some of the highlights from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which took place in 2021.

1 - Third-time lucky for Cunha

The relief on Ana Marcela Cunha’s face when she won the women’s marathon swimming gold medal was palpable.

The five-time world champion had finally won Olympic gold in her third Olympic Games.

In a thrilling finish, Cunha, 29, touched home in 1 hour 59 minutes 30.8 seconds, just 0.9s ahead of Dutch defending champion Sharon van Rouwendaal.

"We are Latin people, we are hot, we are emotional people, so I had to be very cold mentally in the race to be focused and I had to win it myself,” she told reporters after.

Cunha, who dyed her hair in the Brazilian national colours of yellow and green, became her nation’s first woman to land a swimming gold medal.

2 - Wellbrock delivers in open water

Germany's Florian Wellbrock went into Tokyo 2020 hoping to become the first man ever to win gold medals in marathon swimming and swimming at the same Games

That dream ended after he finished with bronze in the 1500m freestyle in the pool, but he was more determined than ever to land gold in the men's marathon swim.

The 23-year-old sprinted out to an early lead, and won by the biggest margin in Olympic marathon swimming history, finishing in 1:48:33.

While he didn’t achieve his dream, he's now one of just three male athletes to medal in swimming and marathon swimming at one Olympic Games, with Tunisia’s two-time gold medallist Oussama Mellouli completing the feat in 2012, and Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri being added to the list in Tokyo with his open water bronze.

"A little bit unreal," the 23-year-old Wellbrock said. "The first seven [kilometers] of this race felt really easy. My competitors had to work really hard behind me."

3 - Something was fishy...

Marathon swimming is unique in that competitors must navigate around natural factors, as well as their rivals.

Fish could be seen jumping over the heads of swimmers as they cut through the water at the Odaiba Marine Park, with one hitting a bronze medallist Kareena Lee’s chest.

"It jumped up and hit me (on the chest). I didn't know what it was at first and I was like 'woah'," Australian Lee said of the fish.

4 - Swimmers stay hydrated!

Marathon swimmers spend about two hours in the water.

As such, staying well hydrated is one of the most important factors of racing, especially in humid conditions.

In order to take water in the most efficient way possible, coaches head to the water’s edge and hand their athlete a water bottle attached to a large stick with their nation’s flag on it.

Many Olympic viewers who had only seen this technique for the first time flocked to Twitter to show their appreciation for the simplicity and ingenuity of the devices.

5 - Alice Dearing making history

At Tokyo 2020, Alice Dearing became Great Britain’s first black female swimmer to compete at the Olympic Games.

The 24-year-old swam well to qualify for Tokyo, where she finished in 19th position.

But Dearing’s achievement transcends well beyond her statistics. She is an ambassador for the Black Swimming Association, and works to facilitate increased participation in swimming among black people in the UK and beyond.

“I really hope it makes a difference and people look at this and think it’s doable and for anyone out there,” she said. “I just want people to know it is open and available to you, regardless of your race and your background. If you don’t know how to swim, get in and learn to swim. If you want to go to the Olympics, give it your best shot – don’t let anyone tell you it’s not for you. Go chase your dreams if that’s what you want to do."

She pledged to return at the Paris 2024 Games, where she hopes to "do better" and put her Olympic experience into practise.

One last look at the key moments from Japan

If you thought that swimming was a non-contact sport, think again.

Great Britain’s Hector Pardoe was forced to retire on the final lap of the men’s race after a stray elbow caught him flush in the eye.

After the race he tweeted a picture of his patched up and purple face, but thankfully there was no permanent damage.

Far from putting him off, the 20-year-old can’t wait to get back in the water.

“This isn’t going to be a setback, it’s going to be more motivation. I’m going to get my head down and grind and hopefully get back to it in Paris and try and challenge for the medals."

Hello Paris 2024

At just 23-years-old, new men’s Olympic champion Florian Wellbrock will surely only get better.

He will likely try again to achieve his goal of becoming the first man to win gold medals in both marathon swimming and swimming at one Olympics, at Paris 2024.

Hungarian silver medallist Kristof Rasovszky will only be 27 at the next Olympics, and will hope that by specialising in distance swimming, he may be able to go one better in Paris.

When and where to watch marathon swimming replays from Tokyo on Olympics.com now

We’ve got you covered. Tune in right here.

When do the top marathon swimmers compete next?

The FINA/CNSG Marathon Swim World Series 2021 continues on August 28 in Macedonia, before moving on to Chinese Taipei in September, Hong Kong in October, and Israel in December.

The next major international marathon swimming event will be at the 2022 Aquatic World Championships, which take place May 13-29 in Fukuoka, Japan.

Full medals list in marathon swimming at Tokyo 2020 in 2021

Women's marathon swimming

Gold - Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA)

Silver - Sharon van Rouwendaal (NED)

Bronze - Kareena Lee (AUS)

Men's marathon swimming

Gold - Florian Wellbrock (GER)

Silver - Kristof Rasovszky (HUN)

Bronze - Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA)