5 kilometers at sea nets Rasovszky a gold medal

Kristof Rasovszky of Hungary wins the men’s 5 kilometer open water during the Gwangju 2019 FINA World Championships at the Yeosu EXPO Ocean Park in Yeosu on Saturday. [YONHAP]

Kristof Rasovszky of Hungary won the men’s 5 kilometer open water swimming event at the 18th FINA World Aquatics Championships Gwangju 2019 Saturday.

Rasovszky finished his race at the Yeosu EXPO Ocean Park with a time of 53 minutes and 22.10 seconds.

Rasovszky became the first athlete to win gold at this year’s World Aquatics Championships.

Rasovszky got off to a quick start by finishing the first split of the race with a time of 6 minutes and 59.6 seconds. Although he dropped to sixth place by the fifth split, the 2.5 kilometer mark, with a time of 27 minutes and 53 seconds, Rasovszky quickly made his way back to second place before finally regaining his lead in the eighth split. Rasovszky successfully maintained his lead to pick up his first gold medal at a world championships.

“It was a huge race, great speed, no tactical swims, just go,” Rasovszky was quoted as saying on the FINA website. “I toyed with the idea to stay a bit behind before I geared up but there was a tremendous fight at the turns so I saw it was better to stay in front and not be part of that tussle.”

“I launched my finish a bit earlier than expected but it all worked well. Now this is a great feeling, this gold eases the pressure before the 10 kilometer so I think I can show my real potential there.”

Rasovszky represented Hungary at the 2016 Rio Olympics and last year he won gold in the men’s 5 kilometer open water swimming and men’s 25 kilometer open water swimming, while picking up a silver in men’s 10 kilometer open water swimming at the 2018 European Aquatics Championships.

Logan Fontaine of France finished second with a time of 53 minutes and 32.2 seconds and Eric Hedlin of Canada finished third with 53 minutes and 32.4 seconds.

Rasovszky will also compete in the men’s 10 kilometer, mixed 5 kilometer relay and men’s 25 kilometer races.

BY KANG YOO-RIM [kang.yoorim@joongang.co.kr]