Kazan, Russia: South African Chad Ho won the men’s open water 5-kilometre gold medal at the World Swimming Championships in Kazan on Saturday.
Ho clocked 55 minutes 17.6 seconds to take first place ahead of Germany’s Rob Muffels in a photo finish. Matteo Furlan of Italy won the bronze medal in 55mins 20secs.
It was the first time that a South African swimmer had won gold in the open water events at the world championships.
Earlier, Haley Anderson of the United States won the women’s five kilometre gold.
The Olympic silver medallist over 10 kilometres timed 58 minutes 48.4 seconds to edge Greece’s Kalliopi Araouzou into second place with a time of 58mins 49.8secs.
The bronze went to Germany’s Finnia Wunram, who clocked 58mins 51.0secs.
