Legendary waterman and two-time Olympic marathon swimmer Ky Hurst took time out of his pre-Olympic training schedule in Switzerland over the weekend and won the Swiss National 5km Open Water Swimming Championship in Rorschach.
While training with the rest of Swimming Australia at altitude, Hurst found the conditions similar to what might encounter in London at the Olympic marathon swimming 10km – overcast skies with drizzle and 20°C (68°F) water.
The London-like weather seemed to the Aussie’s liking as he ripped off a 53 minute 24 second victory.
Coach Colin Braund commented, “Ky controlled the swim very well and I was very pleased with the way in which he built the race.” Swimming Australia Open Water Coach Greg Towle seems to be also confident but respectful of Hurst’s competitors, “Experience is a major component to being successful in open water swimming, both Melissa [Gorman] and Ky were in Beijing and I believe that they have matured as athletes over the past four years which will assist them greatly in London.”
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.