Women's Swimming
    Haley Anderson Wins Silver In Olympic Marathon 10K
    Trojan senior comes within 0.4 seconds from gold.
    Haley Anderson displays her silver medal won in the Olympic Marathon 10K
    Haley Anderson displays her silver medal won in the Olympic Marathon 10K

    Aug. 9, 2012

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    USC senior Haley Anderson became the first American to win an Olympic medal in the Marathon 10K with a second-place finish in the event Thursday (Aug. 9) in London's Hyde Park.

    Anderson, who won her first NCAA title as a 2012 junior in the 500-yard freestyle and also earned All-American honors in the 1650y free, charged from fourth to second over the final 1000 meters of the six-lap race Thursday and came within 0.4 seconds from earning gold.

    Anderson finished in 1:57:38.6 to Hungarian winner Eva Risztov's 1:57:38.2. The finish was close enough to warrant a review, which was later confirmed by officials. Italy's Martina Grimaldi was third (1:57:41.8) while pre-race favorite Keri-Anne Payne of Britain finished fourth (1:57:42.2).

    Anderson's silver compliments her older sister's Alyssa's gold earlier in the Olympics won in the 800m free relay.

    "Seeing her get a medal, it was like, "Oh, now I have to do it,' " said Haley, a swimmer at Southern California. "You know that sister rivalry.

    "I'm disappointed I didn't win gold, but I gave it everything I had. I'm happy with the result."

    Anderson has had only limited international open water competition. She was fourth in the 25K at the 2010 World Championships and won the FINA Olympic Marathon Swim Qualifier in Portugal in June.

    "Open water is growing and gaining more attention," Anderson said. "You kind of have to be crazy to do it, but it's rewarding."

    Former Trojan product Ous Mellouli of Tunisia, who won bronze in the 1500m free Saturday to follow his gold in the event in 2008, will swim in the men's Marathon 10K Friday.