Courtesy of Merle Liivand, Swimera, Estonia.

Many open water swimmers have to balance their work, family and training in a carefully maintained schedule that would exhaust most people.

Bridgette Hobart Janeczko and Antonio Argüelles are examples of two hard-working marathon swimmers who can navigate a fine balance between all of their corporate responsibilities and marathon swimming goals.

But 24-year-old Merle Liivand combines work and competition is perhaps a unique way as a model, corporate executive, event director, and competitive athlete.

Liivan is currently working with Swimera and FINIS to co-organize the Nordic Open Water Swimming Championships in Tartum the second largest city of Estonia.

Besides the organization of the Nordic Championships and leading swimwear and skincare distributor Swimera to exponential growth, Liivand is heading this June to represent Estonia at the Olympic 10 km Marathon Swim Qualification race in Portugal where 15 swimmers will qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

“I am having really hard practices now, but I am feeling strongly motivated,” explains Liivand. “I am making a first splash on my 25th birthday which is the same date as the Swim Miami event (see her campaign here).

Additionally, I am also helping and sponsoring an International Swim Meet in Estonia where people can try to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics and the European Junior Championships.

In May right before the Olympic 10 km Qualification Race, I also take part in the European Masters Swimming Championships where I will swim mostly my breaststroke events with the new FINIS FUSE swimsuit. After the race in Setubal Bay in Portugal, I will compete at the Estonian National Championships.“

She is as busy in the corporate office as she is in the pool and open water. “I have increase company revenues 40% this year and opened up a second new business as well as spent some time modeling.

I am the cover girl for DERMASPORT and New Wave Swim Buoys, an open water swimming buoy that comes in pink, yellow, orange and neon green colors. There is a discount available with the code MERLE10P in the United States, UK, Canada, France, Spain, Germany, and Italy [see here].”

She is cover girl crazy busy.

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