Wilimovsky claims title in 10-km open water race

Jordan Wilimovsky and Sean Ryan became the first swimmers to make the 2016 U.S. Olympic team Monday, with Wilimovsky winning the World Championships open-water 10km and Ryan finishing fourth in Kazan, Russia. He is the first American man to win the 10K at worlds since 2005.

There was also further success for Russian Federation in synchronised swimming as the host nation added the team technical title to the technical solo and duet crowns already won. Mellouli, who finished in 1:50:50.2, strode past reporters without speaking.

“I was really pumped to see Jordan up there and I knew if the two of us were up that high there was a really good chance we’d both be going to Rio”, Ryan said.

Though there were 72 entries for the endurance race, two swimmers did not start while one failed to finish, making the Indian the last finisher. “Today I swam for my country”. He was second behind Wilimovsky heading for the opposite side of the riverbank from the finish on the final circuit before touching fourth in 1:50:03.3. “It’s a surreal feeling right now, going to Rio is a dream come true”.

A member of the silver medalist team of China is thrown up in the air during the synchronised swimmi …

Ryan will be the 82nd student-athlete or coach from the University of Michigan men’s swimming and diving program to compete at an Olympic Games.

“Everything went according to the plan, ” said Xie, who switched from 10-meter platform to springboard 1 1/2 years ago.

Wilimovsky and Ryan’s qualification means that Andrew Gemmell, last summer’s Pan Pacific Championships victor in the men’s 10K, will not have an opportunity to qualify for the team in open water.