Olympic Swimming 2016: Men's 10KM Open Water Medal Winners, Times and Results

Dutchman Ferry Weertman edged the tightest of finishes at the men's 10-kilometre open water swimming event at Rio 2016 on Tuesday to win gold for the Netherlands the day after compatriot Sharon van Rouwendaal triumphed in the women's event. 

In a chaotic and thrilling finish, Weertman touched home first ahead of Greece's Spiros Gianniotis, who missed the finishing barrier with his hand after leading at the end.

An agonising wait as the judges assessed a photo-finish between multiple swimmers finally returned a result of bronze medal for Frenchman Marc-Antoine Olivier.

Here are the medal results from a fascinating race just off Copacabana beach:

Gold	Silver	Bronze
Ferry Weertman (NED) 1:52:59.8	Spiros Gianniotis (GRE) 1:52:59.8	Marc-Antoine Olivier (FRA) 1:53:02.0

Full results at Rio2016.com.

Australia's Jarrod Poort made a major early break in calm conditions and stretched out a significant lead from the rest of the pack with nobody else choosing to follow.

Tunisia's Oussama Mellouli—London 2012 gold medallist—tried to stretch out the pack and pursue the Australian, but the 21-year-old continued to extend his lead, getting as far as two minutes ahead halfway through the four-lap race.

Mellouli, Great Britain's Jack Burnell and Frenchman Marc-Antoine Olivier looked in the best shape at the front of the chasing pack and slowly but surely they began to reel Poort in.

The United States' Jordan Wilimovsky, 2015 world champion in the 10-kilometre open water event, came from the back of the main pack to join the leading chasers with a lap to go.

Just over 2.5 kilometres from home, the pack looked to be gaining on the front despite a monumental and courageous effort from Poort, per ABC Sport's Peter Wilkins:

At the turn for the home straight, after almost 100 minutes of gruelling swimming, the pack finally bridged the gap, Weertman the first man to overtake Poort.

Wilimovsky, Burnell and Mellouli went with Weertman, the four breaking away from the main group but unable to keep them at bay to set up a four-way sprint for the line.

With 750 metres to go there was an eight-man group in the race for the medals, setting up a brilliant finish after almost two hours of racing.

Burnell was the first swimmer to kick for the finish, opening up a small gap to the chasing group before Mellouli and Wilimovsky covered the move. 

Out of almost nowhere, Gianniotis then made a break for the finish, and the 36-year-old powered out in front.

At the last, though, Weertman rose up to touch the finishing barrier first as Gianniotis flailed and missed with his leading hand.