The number one ranked Australian Lifesaving Team will head to Alexandria, Egypt in October as the odds-on favorite to defend their title at the World Life Saving Championships (Rescue 2010) where over 3,000 athletes from around the world will compete in the pool and ocean.
The ocean events will take place in Mamoura Beach where the tough Aussies will be led by World Ironman Champion Shannon Eckstein and World Ironwoman Champion Naomi Flood, NSW Ironman Champion Chris Allum and Australian Ironwoman Champion Kristyl Smith.
Although teams from New Zealand and Italy will give the Aussies some competition, Australian Team Captain Shannon Eckstein sounds confident. “I think New Zealand will push us all the way once again – they have a very strong squad who are good in both the pool and surf. The Trans-Tasman rivalry always makes competition interesting. We’ll also need to keep an eye on Italy and Germany – they have set an extremely high standard in the pool and will be looking to assert some authority there. The wildcards are definitely China, they were really impressive at the World Games last year, and I think they will have progressed even more. [But] we’ll be going to Egypt with a very strong team and I’m confident in this group’s ability to defend our title.”
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.