(Beijing May 31) While Italian Martina Grimaldi was satisfied with her performance in winning the silver of the Marathon Swimming Olympic Women's Qualification, her compatriot Alice Franco, who finished third in the event, had to give up her dream of competing in the Olympics due to the FINA's rule on national quota.

In today's race, Martina Grimaldi and Alice Franco came in with 2:01:19.7 and 2:01:36.5 to take the silver and bronze respectively. However, according to the International Swimming Federation (FINA), each NOC could field a maximum of two swimmers with only one being eligible for the Olympics, Martina Grimaldi as the silver medalist turned out to be the lucky one getting a spot in the Beijing Olympic tournament.

"Until the last round, I was still behind her (Franco). I think it is a great pity that she did not qualify for the Olympic Games," silver medalist Grimaldi was quoted as saying.

Alice Franco, after losing her final chance to get into the 2008 Olympics, said "I am happy for Martina Grimaldi, but I am sad (for disqualification). I've been training for the Olympics for a long time."

The gold of the event went to American Chloe Sutton in 2:00:48.5.