Tokyo Olympics 2021: Kareena Lee wins bronze in 10km swim

Kareena Lee almost gave up on her Olympic dream, but after a rocky road in the qualifiers – and a rogue Japanese fish in the final – she is Australia’s newest bronze medalist.

Silver medalist Sharon van Rouwendaal of Team Netherlands, Gold medalist Ana Marcela Cunha of Team Brazil, and Bronze medalist Kareena Lee of Team Australia pose after the women's 10km marathon swim. Picture: Getty Images

Kareena Lee almost gave the sport away when she didn’t qualify for Rio — now she is the first Australian to win an Olympic marathon swimming medal.

Lee powered through the soup-like water and battled jumping fish to remain in the front pack for the entire 10km before powering home after the final turn to clinch the bronze medal.

It wasn’t without drama though. A fish leapt from the water and hit Lee.

“It jumped up and hit me (on the chest). I didn’t know what it was at first and I was like ‘Woah’,” Lee said.

“I was watching them jump out before, but I didn’t think one would actually hit me.”

Australia’s Kareena Lee bites her bronze medal at a ceremony after the women's 10km marathon swimming. Picture: AFP

Once she touched behind winner Brazilian Ana Marcela Cunha and Netherlands swimmer Sharon van Rouwendaal, she climbed out the water and jumped straight on the phone — smile from ear to ear.

She was calling home to talk to her coach, John Rodgers.

A legend in the swimming world, Rodgers, 84, who helped Bronte Barratt and Kylie Palmer win Olympic Gold in 2008, opted not to travel to Tokyo due to his age and the Covid risk.

“Hearing his voice and hearing how proud he was of me. It was really special,” Lee said.

“I’ve been with my coach for three years now, we’ve done a lot together these past three years and I’m so lucky to have him.”

Sunshine Coast swimmer Kareena Lee with her coach John Rodgers. Picture: Glenn Hunt

Lee, a former lifesaver, almost gave the sport away after failing to qualify for Rio in 2016.

But the road to Tokyo wasn’t an easy one. She came agonisingly close to missing a second Olympics after being pulled from the water in the qualifying race.

“I got pulled out of the water in the end, mix of dehydration, I was a bit sick. That resulted in a hospital trip,” Lee said.

“I got another chance at qualifying and I came out second best in Australian there.”

Extra time in the pool due to Covid lockdowns and no races helped prepare Lee for the sprint of her life yesterday morning.

Lee reacts after finishing the race. Picture: AFP

“Rodgers worked a lot on my speed and I think I gained a lot of experience during the World Cup events,” Lee said.

“I have been doing a lot of pool racing, and I have increased my speed a lot.

“After finishing seventh at the World Championships in 2019. It was less than a second off the medals and I knew that I had to have some kind of speed at the end to be able to get my hands on that touchpad and it paid off today.”

The water was 29.3 degrees slightly cooler than 31 degrees swimmers had been told to expect.

While it was Lee churned through the water for almost two hours she credited her new prized possession to her team and Rodgers.

“You know this medal means absolutely everything and to me,” Lee said just moments after being presented with it.

“This medal is not just mine, it’s for the whole team that got me here and that’s behind me, and I really hope that it can bring a little bit of joy to the people in lockdown at the moment, too.”

Australia’s Kai Edwards will race on Thursday at 6.30am.

Earlier: ‘Stoked’ Aussie makes history in 10km swim

Aussie swimmer Kareena Lee has pulled off a spectacular effort in the 10km women’s swim, finishing third and claiming the bronze medal.

The 27-year-old finished in 1.59.32.5. Winner Brazilian Ana Marcela Cunha touched in 1.59.30. Netherlands swimmer Sharon van Rouwendaal finished second in 1.59.31.7.

Lee stayed in touch with the front runners for the entire race at Odiaba Marine Park, rotating between 10th to 5th as the event unfolded.

It is the first time an Australian has won a medal of any colour in the 10km marathon event, men or women.

The Noosa girl picked up the pace with just over half a lap to go, trying to move into the top three.

She snuck into third place by the final turn.

Bronze medalist Kareena Lee was all smiles after claiming her medal. Picture: Getty Images

It was a close race to the finish line behind Brazilian Ana Marcel Cunha.

“It’s just amazing. My first Olympics. Coming away with a medal, I’m so stoked, it’s unbelievable,” Lee told Channel 7 after the race.

“Qualifying in 2019 was absolutely amazing. Now it’s been a two-year journey since then.

“I’ve been really working on my speed because I know it’s always fast at the end and you’re gonna have to have that little bit at the end.

“It hurt so, so bad, but you have to think that everybody around you is hurting too and it is who can hurt the most and coming out third today is incredible for me.”

The marathon swimmers had to complete seven laps of the course.

Lee, who missed qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics, said it had been a long road to Tokyo after almost missing out on the Olympics again due to complications in a qualifying event.

“I got pulled out of the water in the end, mix of dehydration, I was a bit sick. That resulted in a hospital trip,” she said.

“I got another chance at qualifying and I came out second best in Australian there. So I missed that. I knew I just had to put my head down and try my hardest for the next one.”

Australia's Kareena Lee in action during the women's 10km marathon swimming. Picture: AFP

Lee’s coach John Rogers was able to be on Tokyo so he watched the race from home.

“He couldn’t travel with us, so, yeah, it was really special to be able to talk to him straight away. He’s so stoked,” Lee said.

“He watched the whole thing on TV. I have such an amazing community around me in Noosa where I live in Pacific Paradise. It’s incredible. But they are all in lockdown at the moment, so, yeah, glued to the front of the TV.”

Lee was hopeful of a medal when she spoke before the race, saying missing selection for the 2016 Games was what fulled her.

“After just missing out on Rio I wasn’t too sure if I was going to continue the sport,” Lee said.

“I had a bit of a break and a long think about it, and I knew I wouldn’t be happy within myself if I left the sport.

“My heart was still in it and I really didn’t want to leave on a low, so I knuckled down and I trained very, very hard. I’m obviously really happy I didn’t leave.”