GWANGJU, South Korea, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Brazil won a gold medal in the women's 5km open water swimming at the FINA World Championships here on Wednesday.

Brazil's Ana Marcela Cunha finished in 57 minutes 56.0 seconds, capturing her first world championship gold in the 5km race.

Cunha has been dominant in the longest 25km event, taking three gold medals in the 25km races in 2011 from Shanghai, in 2015 from Kazan and in 2017 from Budapest.

In the shortest 5km event, Cunha only claimed bronze medals, including the one from Budapest two years ago.

"Anyone can swim well in a 5km if they have done the training. It was not my best race but I'm happy with a medal," said the Brazilian swimmer.

Among 54 competitors, Aurelie Muller of France sealed second in 57:57.00 by exactly one second behind the gold medalist.

Hannah Moore of the United States and Leonie Beck of Germany were tied for third place, two seconds off Cunha's winning time. Both earned their first world championship medals.

The race was held in the Yeosu EXPO Ocean Park in Yeosu, a city about 120 km south of the main host city Gwangju. The Gwangju worlds, which opened on July 12, would last till July 28.