[1] Ilchenko dominated long distance swimming since her first World Championships in Dubai, 2004, where, aged just 16 won by over 30 seconds.

The following year in Montreal, she had a much tougher time as the veterans pushed her under and held her up, but still won with a final sprint.

[2] This was the pattern of all her subsequent victories, battling her way through the pack before sprinting clear at the end.

The American magazine Swimming World named her open water swimmer of the year in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

[5] After sustaining an injury in 2009 and hypothermia at the 2010 World Open Water Swimming Championships, she de facto retired.