Kareena Lee's Olympic Triumph In Women’s 10km Marathon Swim Makes History

Kareena Lee braved Tokyo's Olympic 10km women's marathon swim to score Australia the greatest ever result in an Olympic marathon. 

The 27-year-old hailing from Noosa brought herself out of 10th place to score a bronze medal on Wednesday. 

At just 2km away from the finish line, the 27-year-old battled immense pain bringing herself out of 10th place to finish 3rd, just 1.7 seconds behind the gold medallist Ana Marcela Cunha with Rio champion Sharon van Rouwendaal coming in for silver. 

The marathon was no easy feat to overcome as Lee considered retiring after missing the last Olympics at Rio back in 2016. 

Olympic Commentator Candice Warner emphasised just how hard Lee worked for her success. 

“She has overcome so much. She did struggle with depression, there were times that she couldn’t even swim 25 metres in the pool without struggling or getting out,” she said.

Whilst it was a race she won all her own, Warner added that for Lee, it was a huge team effort, having her 82-year-old coach John ‘JR’ Rodgers and family knuckle down with her to achieve the feat.

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