Australia's Chelsea Gubecka says experience paid off after she broke through to win a maiden world aquatics championships medal, securing silver in the 10km open water event in Fukuoka, Japan.
Competing at her sixth world titles, 24-year-old Gubecka positioned herself in the lead pack for all of Saturday's six-lap race and led with one lap remaining.
But she could not hold off fast-finishing Leonie Beck of Germany who took gold in two hours, two minutes and 34 seconds.
Gubecka was just over four seconds behind, with American Katie Grimes taking the bronze.
"This is my sixth world aquatics championships. I've raced 10 kilometres every single time, so I think it's a long time coming, but I'm just sort of starting to get into my group now," said Gubecka.
"I feel like I'm a little bit older and getting wiser by the second.
“I think over the years, I have learned to embrace the challenge of racing and also how to relax, to keep the heart rate down and stay very calm,” Gubecka added.
“It is a tactical race but I was confident about the training I had done.
"My big goal has been about being on the podium at these worlds and I am very excited to have won a quota spot for the Paris Olympics, but it will sink in more when my ticket to Paris is ratified.
“We still have the 5km events and relays to go here (in Fukuoka), I won’t be doing the 5km but the relay is still up for selection.”
The three medallists, Beck, Gubecka and Grimes, secured qualifying spots for the 2024 Olympics under World Aquatics qualifying procedures but the positions need to be ratified.
The other 19 spots in the race will be determined at the next world championships in February.
For Gubecka, it will be her second Olympic Games after previously racing the 10km in 2016.
The men’s 10km race takes place on Sunday with Bailey Armstrong and Nicholas Sloman representing Australia.
