Music: {allcanada} CANADIAN WEINBERGER WINS BRONZE IN 10K SWIMMING EVENT

Sunday, January 29, 2012

{allcanada} CANADIAN WEINBERGER WINS BRONZE IN 10K SWIMMING EVENT

SANTOS, Brazil -- Canada's Richard Weinberger won a bronze medal Sunday in the men's 10-kilometre race at a marathon swimming World Cup.

The Victoria swimmer finished third in two hours 11 minutes 42.34 seconds.

World champion Spiros Gianniotis of Greece won gold in 2:11:39.51 and Nicola Bolzonello of Italy was second in 2:11:41.44.

"To be racing side by side and keeping pace with a guy like Spiros was exhilarating," he said. "There is still a long journey ahead but with continued serious training and hard work I feel that one day I can surpass him."

Weinberger, 21, was coming off a strong 2011 campaign that was highlighted by a victory on the Olympic course at a test event in London. He was pleased that he fought off choppy waters Sunday and reached the podium.

"I'm very excited about this performance," Weinberger said. "It gives me a lot of confidence and it proves my strong results last year were no fluke."

Xavier Desharnais of Sherbrooke, Que., was 16th and Aimeson King of Victoria was 31st.

Martina Grimaldi of Italy won gold in the women's 10K race in 2:22:33.94.

Zsofia Balazs of Toronto was the top Canadian in 14th place. Nadine Williams of Sherwood Park, Alta., was 21st, Tyra Rooney of Calgary 25th and Caitlin Nolan of LaSalle, Que., did not finish.

The Olympic marathon qualifier is set for June in Portugal.