The women’s 10 km open water marathon did not leave a good impression, nor did it bring great sensations for the athletes on Thursday morning. The turbulent Seine River wreaked havoc on many competitors' strategies. Sharon Van Rouwendaal dominated the final, skillfully playing with the currents, and clinched the gold without hesitation.

At the mercy of the current, with a rapid descent and the challenge of advancing against it, the swimmers faced considerable obstacles. In certain stretches, it was necessary to swim diagonally, similar to what happens on northern beaches during adverse conditions, seeking refuge near the walls and hedges lining the Seine.

This demanding environment highlighted the complexity of open water competitions, where every detail can make the difference between victory and defeat. The Dutch athlete took full advantage of this, putting in a monumental effort between Pont de l'Alma and Pont Alexandre III to overtake her main competitors, Moesha Johnson, and Ginevra Taddeucci.

Although the Seine raised more doubts than certainties at the start, the race had to be swum. Initially, it was the Australian Moesha Johnson who surged ahead with a powerful start.

And while it may have been too early, it was the Italians Taddeucci and Gabbrielleschi who pushed the pace, trying to set a strong tempo with only one of the six laps completed.

However, Van Rouwendaal didn’t leave much room for her rivals to dream. Focused and determined in her goal, she maintained a steady pace at the front from the very beginning; by the third lap, she had already gained a three-second lead over her closest pursuer.

The "swimming marathon," as this event has begun to be called since these Paris Games, was entering its final stretch, the last few kilometers, with a captivating but uneven duel between the veteran Dutch champion from Rio 2016, Van Rouwendaal, and her rivals: Johnson, Taddeucci, and Gubecka, trying to distance themselves from the next group battling for 5th place.

By the time laps 5 and 6 were completed, the race was essentially decided. Van Rouwendaal, Johnson, and Taddeucci had completely broken away from the rest of the pack, securing their medals. The race was fractured, with an 18-second gap separating them from the next chasing group after 7.6 kilometers.

The final meters sealed the outcome. With the water becoming increasingly chaotic, the counter-current proved decisive. All the swimmers hugged the wall, with little visibility for the spectators, but in a crucial area. Neither Johnson nor Taddeucci, who was pushing hard to improve her medal's color, could close the gap... until the 30-year-old athlete from Utrecht hit her own personal turbo.

This is how the podium was set, with the Netherlands, Australia, and Italy claiming the top spots. However, in the French competition, as we know, competitors finishing between fourth and eighth place are awarded a diploma. This small distinction went to Marcela Cunha (4th), Bettina Fabian (5th), Giulia Gabbrielleschi (6th), Oceane Cassignol (7th), and Caroline Jouisse (8th).