{{Short description|Brazilian swimmer (born 1992)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Portuguese name|Jesus Soares|Cunha}} {{Infobox swimmer | name = Ana Marcela Cunha | image = Ana Marcela Cunha em 2021.jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = Cunha at the 2020 Summer Olympics | fullname = Ana Marcela Jesus Soares da Cunha | national_team = Brazil | strokes = Open water marathon | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|3|23|df=yes}} | birth_place = Salvador, Bahia, Brazil | height = 1.64 m | weight = 65 kg | club = Unisanta | show-medals = yes | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Women's swimming}} {{MedalCountry|{{BRA}}}} {{MedalOlympic}} {{MedalGold|2020 Tokyo|10 km open water}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalGold|2011 Shanghai|25 km open water}} {{MedalGold|2015 Kazan|25 km open water}} {{MedalGold|2017 Budapest|25 km open water}} {{MedalGold|2019 Gwangju|5 km open water}} {{MedalGold|2019 Gwangju|25 km open water}} {{MedalGold|2022 Budapest|5 km open water}} {{MedalGold|2022 Budapest|25 km open water}} {{MedalSilver|2013 Barcelona|10 km open water}} {{MedalSilver|2015 Kazan|Team open water}} {{MedalBronze|2013 Barcelona|5 km open water}} {{MedalBronze|2015 Kazan|10 km open water}} {{MedalBronze|2017 Budapest|5 km open water}} {{MedalBronze|2017 Budapest|10 km open water}} {{MedalBronze|2022 Budapest|10 km open water}} {{MedalBronze|2023 Fukuoka|5 km open water}} {{MedalBronze|2024 Doha|5 km open water}} {{MedalCompetition|World Open Water Championships}} {{MedalBronze|2010 Roberval|5 km open water}} {{MedalCompetition|World Beach Games}} {{MedalGold|2019 Doha|5 km open water}} {{MedalCompetition|Pan Pacific Championships}} {{MedalBronze|2018 Tokyo|10 km open water}} {{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}} {{MedalGold| 2019 Lima|10 km open water}} {{MedalSilver| 2023 Santiago|10 km open water}} {{MedalCompetition|South American Games}} {{MedalGold|2006 Buenos Aires|5 km open water}} {{MedalGold|2006 Buenos Aires|10 km open water}} {{MedalGold|2010 Medellín|5 km open water}} {{MedalGold|2014 Santiago|3 km team}} {{MedalGold|2022 Asuncion|10 km open water}} {{MedalSilver|2010 Medellín|10 km open water}} {{MedalBronze|2014 Santiago|10 km open water}} }} '''Ana Marcela Jesus Soares da Cunha''' (born 23 March 1992) is a Brazilian swimmer who specializes in the open water swimming marathon.<ref>{{cite Sports-Reference |title=Ana Marcela Cunha |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/cu/ana-marcela-cunha-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418032208/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/cu/ana-marcela-cunha-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |access-date=7 December 2012}}</ref> She is considered one of the best open water swimmers in history, having obtained 17 medals in FINA World Aquatics Championships (including seven gold medals as of 2024). She has also received FINA’s Female World Open Water Swimmer Of The Year award six times (2010, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Munatones |first=Steven |date=7 February 2020 |title=Ana Marcela Cunha Awarded FINA's World Open Water Swimmer Of The Year |url=https://www.openwaterswimming.com/ana-marcela-cunha-awarded-finas-world-open-water-swimmer-of-the-year/ |access-date=30 June 2022 |website=World Open Water Swimming Association |language=en-US}}</ref> Her countless achievements are comparable only to those of Larisa Ilchenko, another multi-medalist in World Championships.<ref>[https://ge.globo.com/natacao/blogs/blog-do-coach/post/2020/02/07/por-que-ana-marcela-cunha-e-a-melhor-do-mundo-pela-6a-vez.ghtml Por que Ana Marcela Cunha é a melhor do mundo pela 6a vez]</ref>
Cunha won the gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in the women's marathon 10 km.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 August 2021|title=Brazil's Cunha wins women's Olympic marathon swimming|url=https://apnews.com/article/2020-tokyo-olympics-swimming-track-and-field-sports-marathons-401c2fc655d2c6a449c4bcf57cc6bdac|access-date=23 August 2021|website=AP NEWS|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ana Marcela Cunha: Brazil's queen of marathon swimming|url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/ana-marcela-cunha-brazils-queen-of-marathon-swimming|access-date=23 August 2021|website=Tokyo 2020|language=en-US|archive-date=23 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823194400/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/ana-marcela-cunha-brazils-queen-of-marathon-swimming|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=3 August 2021|title=Olympics: Ana Marcela Cunha Claims Gold in 10K; 2016 Champ van Rouwendaal Earns Silver|url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/olympics-ana-marcela-cunha-claims-gold-in-10k-2016-champion-van-rouwendaal-earns-silver/|access-date=23 August 2021|website=Swimming World News|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Career== At only 14 years old, she collected two gold medals at the 5 km and 10 km marathon at the 2006 South American Games in Buenos Aires.<ref>{{cite web|title=Record number of 4,200 contestants |work=CBDA |date=24 November 2006 |url=http://www.cbda.org.br/noticias/numero-recorde-de-4200-competidores-id-7559 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628044026/http://www.cbda.org.br/noticias/numero-recorde-de-4200-competidores-id-7559 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 June 2013 |access-date=18 April 2013 |language=pt }}</ref>
In 2005, she was able to reach second place in Travessia dos Fortes (the most important competition of the aquatic marathon calendar in Brazil).<ref>{{cite web|title=Record number of 4,200 contestants |work=CBDA |date=24 November 2006 |url=http://www.cbda.org.br/noticias/numero-recorde-de-4200-competidores-id-7559 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628044026/http://www.cbda.org.br/noticias/numero-recorde-de-4200-competidores-id-7559 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 June 2013 |access-date=18 April 2013 |language=pt }}</ref> Subsequently, became champion in 2006 and 2011.<ref>{{cite web | title = Travessia dos Fortes gather over two thousand athletes in Copacabana | work = Globoesporte | date = 31 March 2012 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/aquaticos/noticia/2012/03/travessia-dos-fortes-reunira-mais-de-dois-mil-atletas-em-copacabana.html |access-date = 18 April 2013|language=pt}}</ref>
Cunha qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, after placing tenth at the FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships in Seville, Spain.<ref>{{cite news|last=Munatones |first=Steven |title=FINA World Open Water Championships: Dreams Come True |url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/17991.asp |work=Swimming World |date=3 May 2008 |access-date=7 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620032941/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/17991.asp |archive-date=20 June 2013 }}</ref> She became the youngest-ever swimmer to participate in the inaugural women's 10 km open water marathon, against a field of twenty-four other competitors, including her teammate Poliana Okimoto, South African amputee Natalie du Toit, British duo Keri-Anne Payne and Cassandra Patten, and sixteen-year-old American Chloe Sutton. Cunha finished in a close race for fifth place, with a total time of 1:59:36.8, approximately one second ahead of Switzerland's Swann Oberson, yet nine seconds behind winner Larisa Ilchenko of Russia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Women's Marathon 10km |url=http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/swimming/resultsandschedules/rsc=SWW119100/index.html |publisher=NBC Olympics |access-date=7 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821024437/http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/swimming/resultsandschedules/rsc%3DSWW119100/index.html |archive-date=21 August 2012 }}</ref>
thumbnail|Winning race at the 2015 World Champs
At the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome, Italy, Cunha finished twenty-second in the 10 km marathon, with a time of 2:02:06.4. The following year, she reinforced her lead in the FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup circuit, by dominating all eight meets of the series.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ana Marcela Cunha, Fran Crippen Win Cancun Stops of FINA 10K Marathon World Cup |url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/25222.asp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203062856/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/25222.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 February 2013 |work=Swimming World |date=11 October 2010 |access-date=7 December 2012 }}</ref> Because of her repeated successes, Cunha was selected as FINA's best female open water swimmer of the year.<ref>{{cite news|title=2010 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year|url=http://www.openwaterswimming.com/community/wowsa-awards/2010-world-open-water-swimming-woman-year/|publisher=Open Water Source|access-date=7 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019141058/http://www.openwaterswimming.com/community/wowsa-awards/2010-world-open-water-swimming-woman-year/|archive-date=19 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
She won the gold medal at the 5 km marathon tied with Andreina Pinto, at the 2010 South American Games in Medellín.<ref>{{cite web | title = Organization denies appeal, and Ana Marcela divides Medellín's gold with Venezuelan | work = Globoesporte | date = 24 March 2010 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/Esportes/Noticias/Esportes_Aquaticos/0,,MUL1543288-16315,00-ORGANIZACAO+NEGA+RECURSO+E+ANA+MARCELA+DIVIDE+OURO+DE+MEDELLIN+COM+VENEZUEL.html |access-date = 18 April 2013|language=pt}}</ref> She also got the silver medal in the 10 km marathon.<ref>{{cite web | title = In new duel against Venezuelan, Ana Marcela loses and is silver in the South American | work = Globoesporte | date = 25 March 2010 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/Esportes/Noticias/Esportes_Aquaticos/0,,MUL1544772-16315,00.html |access-date = 18 April 2013|language=pt}}</ref>
At the 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai, Cunha won the gold medal in the women's 25 km marathon, with a time of 5:29:22.9.<ref>{{cite news|title=No Olympics, but gold in the 25km |url=http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2372:petar-stoychev-bul-first-gold-for-last-world-appearance-&catid=319:shanghai-2011-open-water-swimming&Itemid=1117 |publisher=FINA |date=23 July 2011 |access-date=7 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825144252/http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2372%3Apetar-stoychev-bul-first-gold-for-last-world-appearance-&catid=319%3Ashanghai-2011-open-water-swimming&Itemid=1117 |archive-date=25 August 2012 }}</ref> Despite her first world championship success, Cunha nearly missed out of the final slot for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, as she placed eleventh in the 10 km marathon, with a slowest time of 2:02:22.2, four seconds behind Spain's Erika Villaécija García.<ref>{{cite news|title=Brasileiros decepcionam nos 10km da maratona aquática|trans-title=Brazilians disappointed in the 10km marathon swimming|language=pt|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/aquaticos/noticia/2011/07/brasileiros-decepcionam-nos-10km-da-maratona-aquatica.html|publisher=Globo Esporte|date=20 July 2011|access-date=7 December 2012}}</ref> Cunha also placed seventh in the 5 km marathon with a time of<ref>{{cite web | title = Ana Marcela comes 7th in the 5km, and still will swim the 25 km; Okimoto is 11th | work = Globoesporte | date = 22 July 2011 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/aquaticos/noticia/2011/07/ana-marcela-chega-em-7-e-poliana-em-11-nos-5km-em-xangai.html|access-date = 18 April 2013|language=pt}}</ref>
In 2012, Cunha decided to withdraw from the FINA Olympic Marathon Swim Qualifier, held in Setubal, Portugal, to focus on her competitive career for the FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup circuit. She dominated the series by successfully defending her title for the second time, amassing a total of 160 points and four victories in eight different meets.<ref>{{cite news|title=Spyridon Giannotis, Ana Marcela Cunha earn wins on FINA 10km World Cup |url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/OpenWater/32327.asp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203164712/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/OpenWater/32327.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 February 2013 |work=Swimming World |date=17 October 2012 |access-date=7 December 2012 }}</ref>
At the 2013 FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain, Cunha handed an entire medal haul for the Brazilians in the 5 km marathon, as she snatched the bronze in 56:44.4.<ref>{{cite news|title=USA's Haley Anderson Captures 5K at Worlds |url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/OpenWater/35189.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705142458/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/OpenWater/35189.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 July 2014 |work=Swimming World |access-date=20 July 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kempf|first=Andrew|title=Anderson of US, Olympic champ Mellouli win 5K|url=http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Anderson-of-US-Olympic-champ-Mellouli-win-5K-4676565.php|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=20 July 2013}}</ref> Three days later, she won the silver medal in the 10 km marathon, with her teammate Poliana Okimoto winning the gold medal.<ref>{{cite web | title = Poliana and Ana Marcela make history and won the gold and silver medals in the 10km | publisher = SPORTV | date = 23 July 2013 | url = http://sportv.globo.com/site/eventos/mundial-de-esportes-aquaticos/noticia/2013/07/poliana-e-ana-marcela-conquistam-ouro-e-prata-nos-10km-do-mundial.html |access-date =27 July 2013|language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Results of the 10 km Marathon Swimming at 2013 Barcelona | work = OmegaTiming | date = 23 July 2013 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00010D04000300FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF02 |access-date =27 July 2013}}</ref> Ending her participation, she was in the 25 km marathon, where she tried to defend her 2011 title, but finished in fifth place, 4 seconds of the race winner.<ref>{{cite web | title = Ana Marcela can't win the second title in the 25km and stays out of the podium | work = UOL | date = 27 July 2013 | url = http://esporte.uol.com.br/natacao/ultimas-noticias/2013/07/27/ana-marcela-nao-consegue-bi-na-prova-de-25km-e-fica-de-fora-do-podio.htm |access-date =27 July 2013|language=pt}}</ref>
At the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan, Cunha won a bronze medal in the 10 km marathon.<ref>{{cite web | title = Ana Marcela Cunha wins bronze in the 10 km marathon and guarantees the Olympic vacancy | work = R7 | date = 28 July 2015 | url = http://rederecord.r7.com/pan-toronto-2015/ana-marcela-cunha-e-bronze-nos-10-quilometros-da-maratona-aquatica-e-garante-vaga-na-olimpiada-28072015 | access-date = 30 July 2015 | language = pt | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150730041054/http://rederecord.r7.com/pan-toronto-2015/ana-marcela-cunha-e-bronze-nos-10-quilometros-da-maratona-aquatica-e-garante-vaga-na-olimpiada-28072015 | archive-date = 30 July 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Results of the 10 km marathon at 2015 Kazan | work = OmegaTiming | date = 28 July 2015 | url = http://omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00010F04000202FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF02 | access-date = 30 July 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190213085954/http://omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00010F04000202FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF02 | archive-date = 13 February 2019 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Two days later, she won the silver medal in the Mixed 5km Team Event.<ref>{{cite web | title = Results of the Mixed 5km Team at 2015 Kazan | work = OmegaTiming | date = 30 July 2015 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00010F04000304FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF02| access-date = 30 July 2013}}</ref> On 1 August, she became two-time World Champion of the 25 km marathon. At 23, Ana Marcela Cunha became the Brazilian woman with more medals won at the World Championships of Olympic sports.<ref>{{cite web | title = Ana Marcela faces the sun, rain and 5h-proof and is the world twice champion of the 25km | work = Globoesporte | date = 1 August 2015 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/maratona-aquatica/noticia/2015/08/ana-marcela-encara-sol-chuva-e-5h-de-prova-e-e-bicampea-mundial-dos-25km.html |access-date =1 August 2015|language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Results of the 25 km marathon at 2015 Kazan | work = OmegaTiming | date = 1 August 2015 | url = http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00010F04000203FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF02| access-date = 1 August 2015}}</ref>
Returning to the Olympic open water marathon in 2016, Cunha was deemed the race's favorite in previews, especially with the advantage of the Olympics being in her home country.<ref>[http://dailynews.openwaterswimming.com/2016/07/why-ana-marcela-cunha-will-win-olympic.html Why Ana Marcela Cunha Will Win The Olympic 10K In Rio]</ref> However, she was unable to live up to the pressure of winning at home, finishing in tenth, while blaming the underperformance on missing the in-race nutrition.<ref>[http://sportv.globo.com/site/programas/rio-2016/noticia/2016/08/ana-marcela-se-emociona-e-mostra-decepcao-com-10-lugar-nao-e-digno.html Sportv]</ref>
At the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Cunha won two bronze medals in the 5 km marathon<ref>{{cite web | title = Repeated! In the beating of the hand, Ana Marcela takes her second bronze in the Worlds | work = Globoesporte | date = 19 July 2017 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/maratona-aquatica/noticia/repeteco-na-batida-de-mao-ana-marcela-leva-seu-segundo-bronze-no-mundial.ghtml |access-date =29 July 2017|language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Results of the 5 km marathon at 2017 Budapest | work = OmegaTiming | date = 19 July 2017 | url = http://omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000111050002D504FFFFFFFFFFFFFF01 | access-date = 29 July 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170727003309/http://www.omegatiming.com/file/download/?id=000111050002D504FFFFFFFFFFFFFF01 | archive-date = 27 July 2017 | url-status = dead }}</ref> and in the 10 km marathon.<ref>{{cite web | title = Ana Marcela arrives tied with Italian and wins the bronze in the World | work = Globoesporte | date = 16 July 2017 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/maratona-aquatica/noticia/ana-marcela-chega-empatada-com-italiana-e-conquista-o-bronze-no-mundial.ghtml |access-date =29 July 2017|language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Results of the 10 km marathon at 2017 Budapest | work = OmegaTiming | date = 16 July 2017 | url = http://omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000111050002DA04FFFFFFFFFFFFFF01 | access-date = 29 July 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170720125235/http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000111050002DA04FFFFFFFFFFFFFF01 | archive-date = 20 July 2017 | url-status = dead }}</ref> On 21 July, she became three-time World Champion of the 25 km marathon.<ref>{{cite web | title = From "bomb" to three: with different start and snake attack in the last corner, Ana Marcela is gold | work = Globoesporte | date = 21 July 2017 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/maratona-aquatica/noticia/da-bomba-ao-tri-com-largada-diferente-ana-marcela-conquista-o-titulo-dos-25km.ghtml |access-date =29 July 2017|language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Results of the 25 km marathon at 2017 Budapest | work = OmegaTiming | date = 21 July 2017 | url = http://omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000111050002E904FFFFFFFFFFFFFF01 | access-date = 29 July 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170722235158/http://omegatiming.com/file/download/?id=000111050002E904FFFFFFFFFFFFFF01 | archive-date = 22 July 2017 | url-status = dead }}</ref> She also participated at the Mixed 5km Team Event, along with Viviane Jungblut, Allan do Carmo and Fernando Ponte, finishing 6th.<ref>{{cite web | title = Brazilian quartet is sixth in the relay race; France takes another gold | work = Globoesporte | date = 20 July 2017 | url = http://globoesporte.globo.com/maratona-aquatica/noticia/quarteto-brasileiro-fica-em-sexto-na-prova-de-revezamento-franca-leva-outro-ouro.ghtml |access-date =29 July 2017|language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Results of the Mixed 5km Team at 2017 Budapest | work = OmegaTiming | date = 20 July 2017 | url = http://omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=0001110500036504FFFFFFFFFFFFFF01 | access-date = 29 July 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170727003608/http://www.omegatiming.com/file/download/?id=0001110500036504FFFFFFFFFFFFFF01 | archive-date = 27 July 2017 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
In 2019, she won the gold medal in the women's marathon 10 kilometres at the 2019 Pan American Games held in Lima, Peru.<ref name="women_10_km_pan_american_games_2019">{{Cite web|title=Women's marathon 10 kilometres|url=https://wrsd.lima2019.pe/panam/resPAG2019/pdf/PAG2019/OWS/PAG2019_OWS_C73_OWSW10KM--------------FNL-000100--.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730230601/https://wrsd.lima2019.pe/panam/resPAG2019/pdf/PAG2019/OWS/PAG2019_OWS_C73_OWSW10KM--------------FNL-000100--.pdf|archive-date=30 July 2020|access-date=30 July 2020|website=2019 Pan American Games}}</ref> She also claimed gold at the ANOC World Beach Games in the women's open water 5 km swim.
At the 2020 Summer Olympics, in the Women's marathon 10 km, she won the gold medal.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 August 2021|title=Brazil's Cunha wins women's Olympic marathon swimming|url=https://apnews.com/article/2020-tokyo-olympics-swimming-track-and-field-sports-marathons-401c2fc655d2c6a449c4bcf57cc6bdac|access-date=23 August 2021|website=AP NEWS|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ana Marcela Cunha: Brazil's queen of marathon swimming|url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/ana-marcela-cunha-brazils-queen-of-marathon-swimming|access-date=23 August 2021|website=Tokyo 2020|language=en-US|archive-date=23 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823194400/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/ana-marcela-cunha-brazils-queen-of-marathon-swimming|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=3 August 2021|title=Olympics: Ana Marcela Cunha Claims Gold in 10K; 2016 Champ van Rouwendaal Earns Silver|url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/olympics-ana-marcela-cunha-claims-gold-in-10k-2016-champion-van-rouwendaal-earns-silver/|access-date=23 August 2021|website=Swimming World News|language=en-US}}</ref>
At the 2022 World Aquatics Championships held in Budapest, Hungary, she won her second gold medal in a row in the Women's 5 km open water, with a time of 57:52.9.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/000117030002D504FFFFFFFFFFFFFF02.pdf|title=Final results|publisher=omegatiming.com|date=27 June 2022}}</ref> She also won bronze in the Women's 10 km.<ref>[https://www.correiobraziliense.com.br/esportes/2022/06/5018717-ana-marcela-cunha-conquista-o-bronze-na-prova-de-10-km-no-mundial.html Ana Marcela Cunha conquista o bronze na prova de 10 km no Mundial]</ref> In the Women's 25 km event she became a five-time world champion this year, with four titles in a row.<ref>[https://ge.globo.com/maratona-aquatica/noticia/2022/06/30/ana-marcela-e-pentacampea-mundial-dos-25km-de-aguas-abertas.ghtml Ana Marcela é pentacampeã mundial dos 25km de águas abertas]</ref>
==Awards and honours== * FINA, Top 10 Moments: 2020 Summer Olympics (#7 for winning the gold medal in the 10 kilometre open water swim by 0.7 seconds)<ref name="FINA24Nov2021">[https://www.fina.org/news/2347884/tokyo-olympics-top-10-moments "Tokyo Olympics: Top 10 moments"]. FINA. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.</ref>
==Personal life== Ana is a lesbian. Her father was a swimmer and her mother is a former gymnast, who always supported her.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pinheiro |first=Raquel |date=11 September 2021 |title=Ana Marcela Cunha sobre sua representatividade: "Mulher, nordestina, lésbica" {{!}} Entrevista |url=https://revistaquem.globo.com/Entrevista/noticia/2021/09/ana-marcela-cunha-sobre-sua-representatividade-mulher-nordestina-lesbica.html |access-date=1 July 2022 |website=Revista Quem}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons}} *{{official website}} {{in lang|pt}} *{{Sports links}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 10 km Marathon Women}} {{Footer Pan American Champions 10 km Marathon Women}} {{Footer Brazil Swimming 2008 Summer Olympics}} {{Prêmio Brasil Olímpico}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cunha, Ana Marcela}} Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:Olympic swimmers for Brazil Category:Swimmers at the 2008 Summer Olympics Category:Swimmers at the 2016 Summer Olympics Category:Swimmers at the 2011 Pan American Games Category:Swimmers at the 2019 Pan American Games Category:Swimmers at the 2023 Pan American Games Category:Brazilian female long-distance swimmers Category:Sportspeople from Salvador, Bahia Category:World Aquatics Championships medalists in open water swimming Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for Brazil Category:Pan American Games swimmers for Brazil Category:Pan American Games gold medalists in swimming Category:South American Games gold medalists for Brazil Category:South American Games bronze medalists for Brazil Category:South American Games silver medalists for Brazil Category:South American Games medalists in swimming Category:Competitors at the 2006 South American Games Category:Competitors at the 2010 South American Games Category:Competitors at the 2014 South American Games Category:Medalists at the 2019 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2023 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic gold medalists for Brazil Category:Olympic gold medalists in swimming Category:Swimmers at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:LGBTQ swimmers Category:Brazilian lesbian sportswomen Category:21st-century Brazilian LGBTQ people Category:21st-century Brazilian sportswomen Category:Swimmers at the 2024 Summer Olympics Category:Competitors at the 2022 South American Games