Stiff Competition In Domestic Open Waters
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.
Copyright © 2011 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.
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