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Burnell wins first gold of Marathon World Swim Series 2018

Jack Burnell said his tactics paid off as he won his first gold medal of the FINA/HOSA Marathon Swim World Series 2018 by the narrowest of margins in China.

Burnell touched home only 0.1 seconds ahead of Germany’s Rob Frederik Muffels after an epic three-way battle for the top spot in the Men’s 10k race in Qiandao Lake, Chun’an.

With the lake’s temperature 29 degrees, 25-year-old Burnell clocked 1:56:34.8 to take the title and also beat Italian Olympic and world champion Gregorio Paltrinieri, who finished third in 1:56:35.3.

And Burnell was pleased his race plan paid off saying: “It was really hot out there, so a lot of energy conservation had to happen throughout the whole race.

“I thought I’d gone a bit too early but I knew, with these really quick guys in here, that I had to get out there and give myself a chance and I managed to do that.

“Everything was all-in. I knew I had that little bit at the end and it was [about] judging when to put that in and it paid off.

“Another day, it may have been too late or too early. That’s open water – it’s so variable.”

It was Burnell’s third medal of the FINA/HOSA Marathon Swim World Series 2018.

He picked up a silver in the second round of the series, which took place in the Seychelles, as he clocked 1:49:44.00 to finish 2.10 seconds behind Italy’s Simone Ruffini.

And he also won a bronze medal in the third leg of the series in Setubal, Portugal, when he finished in a time of 1:56:23.22.

Also in action for Great Britain during the penultimate leg of the world series in China was Tobias Robinson, who finished in 12th place.

In the women’s 10k race, Jazz Carlin was forced to withdraw part way round the course due to illness.

The final race of the season takes place in the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi on 9 November.

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