[6] In 2009, Okimoto won the marathon swimming World Cup, winning 9 of 11 stages held, becoming the first Brazilian champion of the sport.

With that, she broke a 15 years-fast for Brazil in the World Championships, and became the first Brazilian woman to win a medal in the competition's history.

[12] In the 2012 Olympics in London Okimoto was unable to complete the race due to the water temperature, being disqualified.

[2] The frustration that followed led Okimoto to clinical depression and thoughts of abandoning the sport, before being convinced otherwise by among others her husband-coach Ricardo Cintra.

A disqualification of second placed Aurélie Muller upgraded her to the bronze, making Okimoto the first Brazilian woman to win a swimming Olympic medal.