KAZAN, Russia (AFP) - South African Chad Ho won the men's open water 5km gold medal at the World Swimming Championships in Kazan on Saturday.

The 25-year-old clocked 55min 17.6sec to take first place ahead of Germany's Rob Muffels in a photo finish. Matteo Furlan of Italy won the bronze medal in 55:20.

It was the first time that a South African swimmer had won gold in the open water events at the world championships.

Earlier, Haley Anderson of the United States won the women's 5km gold in the first event of the championships, which run till Aug 9 with a total of 75 golds at stake.