With only 25 berths available in the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim, there are domestic battles before elite athletes can face their international rivals.

Back before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the competitive rivalry between the Mexican swimmers literally came down to the last stroke during the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim qualifier. It was heartbreaking to miss an Olympic opportunity in such a photo-finish. This year, around the world, similar rivalries are taking shape.

Two-time Olympian David Davies is facing stiff domestic challenges from his fellow British teammates Tom Allen and Daniel Fogg. Meanwhile, 2010 world 5K champion Eva Fabian and 2011 world 5K bronze medalist Ashley Twichell will face multiple-time FINA World Cup champion Christine Jennings and two-time FINA World Cup champion Emily Brunemann in what is expected to be a shoulder-to-shoulder photo-finish at the USA Swimming national qualification race in April 2012.

Whether it is David, Tom or Daniel – or Eva, Ashley, Christine or Emily – or some other upstart – time will tell.

The open water swimming world has come to expect the unexpected.

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