The open water swimming competition at the SEA Games XXVI/2011 began Thursday, November 17th on Putri Island among the Thousand Islands of Indonesia.
The multi-sport SEA Games (Southeast Asian Games) are held every two year involving participants from the 11 countries of Southeast Asia including Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines, and Timor-Leste.
The men and women started together in the 5K championship that kicked the competition in the 29.5°C water and 30°C air temperature with light ocean breezes. Vietnam’s Ba Anh Tu Chau took off from the beginning and was never challenged. Local hope from Indonesia Ricky Angga Wuaya followed with Brandon Boon of Singapore in third.
The athletes, coaches and officials will return to the same course on Saturday to conclude with the 10K championship.
In the team championship conducted under the FINA point system, Indonesia is out in front with 54 points and Vietnam in second.
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.