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|
| Poliana
OKIMOTO |
| Sport |
Open Water Swimming |
| NOC |
Brazil
|
| Gender | Women |
| Born | 08 Mar 1983
in São Paulo, BRA |
| Height | 1.65 m |
| Weight | 52 kg |
|
|
|
|
|
Further Personal Information |
Residence |
São Paulo, BRA |
General Interest |
Hobbies |
Watching TV and films, reading, travelling. (cob.org.br, 30 Aug 2016) |
Further Personal Information |
Occupation |
Athlete, Serves in the Army |
Languages |
English, Portuguese, Spanish |
Family |
Husband Ricardo Cintra |
Higher education |
Liberal Studies - Santa Cecilia University [Unisanta]: Brazil |
General Interest |
Injuries |
She suffered a back injury in July 2014 that ruled her out of most of the 2014 World Cup series. (swimswam.com, 21 Jul 2014) |
International Debut |
Year |
1997 |
Competing for |
Brazil |
General Interest |
Other information |
RETIREMENT
In December 2017 she announced her retirement from professional sport due to her desire to become a mother, as well as losing sponsors ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. She has continued competing in amateur events. (globoesporte.globo.com, 04 Dec 2017; clicrbs.com.br, 15 Mar 2018)
NATIONAL FIRSTS
She became the first Brazilian athlete to win a medal in open water swimming at the Olympic Games when she claimed bronze in the 10km at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. She also became the first Brazilian athlete to win a world championship medal in open water swimming when she won two silver medals at the 2006 World Open Water Swimming Championships in Naples, Italy. (ONS, 15 Aug 2016; unisanta.br, 11 Oct 2017)
HYPOTHERMIA
She had to withdraw from the 10km open water race at the 2012 Olympic Games in London due to hypothermia. She fainted shortly after she was rescued from the water and recovered in hospital. (estadao.com.br, 09 Aug 2012) |
Sport Specific Information |
Why this sport? |
She switched to open water swimming after being influenced by her husband Ricardo Cintra. |
General Interest |
Awards and honours |
She was selected to be inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 2018. (swimswam.com, 13 Oct 2017)
She was named the International Swimming Federation [FINA] 2013 Female Open Water Swimmer of the Year. (insidethegames.biz, 06 Jan 2014)
She was named Brazilian Athlete of the Year in 2013 by the Brazilian Olympic Committee. (polianaokimoto.com.br, 15 Jan 2017) |
Nicknames |
Poli (Facebook profile, 15 Aug 2017) |
Memorable sporting achievement |
Winning a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (Facebook page, 29 May 2018) |
Hero / Idol |
Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna, US basketballer Michael Jordan. (cob.org.br, 30 Aug 2016) |
Sport Specific Information |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
She began swimming at age two and started training at age seven. She began open water swimming at age 22. |
General Interest |
Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Though nobody can go back and make a new beginning, anyone can start over and make a new ending." [Chico Xavier] (cob.org.br, 30 Aug 2016) |
Ambitions |
To compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (dailynews.openwaterswimming.com, 02 Sep 2016) |
Other sports |
She competed in swimming [800m freestyle] at the 2002 World Short Course Championships in Moscow, Russian Federation. (fina-budapest2017.com, 01 Jun 2016) |
World Championships Short Course |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 18 |
2002 |
Moscow, RUS |
800m Freestyle |
8:47.99 |
World Cup Short Course |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 31 |
2010 |
|
Overall |
|
| 3 |
2010 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
800m Freestyle |
8:32.88 |
| 3 |
2010 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
400m Freestyle |
4:10.06 |
| 3 |
2005/2006 |
Belo Horizonte, BRA |
800m Freestyle |
8:52.86 |
| 3 |
2005/2006 |
Belo Horizonte, BRA |
400m Freestyle |
4:21.42 |
| 2 |
2001/2002 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
800m Freestyle |
8:48.65 |
| 2 |
2001 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
800m Freestyle |
8:48.65 |
World Championships |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 6 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
10km |
1:58:28.8 |
| 2 |
2013 |
Barcelona, ESP |
5km |
56:34.4 |
| 1 |
2013 |
Barcelona, ESP |
10km |
1:58:19.2 |
| 3 |
2013 |
Barcelona, ESP |
5km - Team Time Trial |
54:03.5 |
| 6 |
2011 |
Shanghai, CHN |
10km |
2:02:13.6 |
| 11 |
2011 |
Shanghai, CHN |
5km |
1:00:48.3 |
| 3 |
2009 |
Rome, ITA |
5 km |
56:59.3 |
| 7 |
2009 |
Rome, ITA |
10km |
2:01:41.5 |
| 8 |
2007 |
Melbourne, VIC, AUS |
10km |
2:04:09.1 |
| 6 |
2007 |
Melbourne, VIC, AUS |
5km |
1:00:48.7 |
World Cup |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 11 |
2017 |
|
10km |
|
| 25 |
2017 |
Abu Dhabi, UAE |
10km |
1:54:13.7 |
| 2 |
2017 |
Viedma, ARG |
10km |
2:12:13.54 |
| 2 |
2016 |
Abu Dhabi, UAE |
10km |
1:58:19.80 |
| 6 |
2016 |
Balatonfüred, HUN |
10km |
2:00:13.58 |
| 2 |
2016 |
Viedma, ARG |
10km |
2:06:15 |
| 4 |
2015 |
Abu Dhabi, UAE |
10km |
2:07:45.4 |
| 3 |
2015 |
Hong Kong, CHN |
10km |
2:05:26.40 |
| 6 |
2015 |
San Miguel de Cozumel, MEX |
10km |
1:48:07.01 |
| 2 |
2014 |
Cancún, MEX |
10km |
2:12:38 |
| 2 |
2014 |
Hong Kong, CHN |
10km |
2:05:20.9 |
| 2 |
2014 |
Qiandaohu, CHN |
10km |
2:06:14.35 |
| 2 |
2014 |
Setúbal, POR |
10km |
2:03:54.4 |
| 1 |
2013 |
Hong Kong, CHN |
10km |
2:02:48.5 |
| 4 |
2012 |
Eilat, ISR |
10km |
2:02:39.25 |
| 1 |
2011 |
Cancún, MEX |
10km |
2:01:58 |
| 2 |
2011 |
Santos, BRA |
10km |
2:13:07.28 |
| 5 |
2010 |
Setúbal, POR |
10km |
2:16:36.4 |
| 1 |
2009 |
|
10km |
|
| 1 |
2009 |
Annecy, FRA |
10km |
1:58:58.69 |
| 1 |
2009 |
Copenhagen, DEN |
10km |
2:05:17 |
| 1 |
2009 |
Dubai, UAE |
10km |
1:52:32.45 |
| 1 |
2009 |
Hong Kong, CHN |
10km |
2:07:18.4 |
| 1 |
2009 |
New York, NY, USA |
10km |
2:04:40.8 |
| 1 |
2009 |
Qiandaohu, CHN |
10km |
2:05:48.96 |
| 2 |
2009 |
Santos, BRA |
10km |
2:09:58.23 |
| 1 |
2009 |
Setúbal, POR |
10km |
1:42:32.18 |
| 1 |
2009 |
Shantou, CHN |
10km |
2:12:30.29 |
| 1 |
2009 |
Sharjah, UAE |
10km |
1:58:17.56 |
| 2 |
2009 |
Varna, BUL |
10km |
2:16:06.64 |
| 1 |
2008 |
Dubai, UAE |
10km |
1:56:01.27 |
| 9 |
2008 |
Santos, BRA |
10km |
2:04:41.36 |
| 3 |
2007 |
|
10km |
|
| 1 |
2007 |
Hong Kong, CHN |
10km |
1:50:11.35 |
| 3 |
2007 |
Seville, ESP |
10km |
2:00:06.78 |
| 1 |
2007 |
Shantou, CHN |
10km |
1:47:49.49 |
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