Blazing A Trail On The Water At The Olympics
Shelley Taylor-Smith was the first female referee in the Olympic marathon swim. She was on the dock during the men’s 10km race in the Serpentine.Despite the pressure of the world’s greatest sporting spectacle, everything went smoothly. “There were just 5 yellow cards (warning) and no red (disqualification) cards given. During the men’s race, I blew the whistle when the pack was bunching up.
I alerted [the other] ref of a potential impediment of other swimmers when they moved from the back of the pack to the front. It was a very clean race..”
As the sport grows globally, there will be significantly more races and need for an increasing number of experienced officials. And Taylor-Smith knows that presents opportunities. “I was more excited about the opportunity [to officiate at the Olympics], knowing it was a significant day for women in sport around the glob. Not so much for today, but for the women in the future who will follow in my footsteps.”
Copyright © 2012 by Open Water Source
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.
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