Australia’s Rhys Mainstone and 2-time Olympian Melissa Gorman were part of something good. Very very good.
Back in January earlier in 2013, they won $15,000 for their victories in the 10 km race at the inaugural BHP Billiton Aquatic Open Water Event in Perth, Australia. Now the Swim the Swan event – an event for every level where even masters swimmers compete for cash – is coming back bigger and better than ever on February 2nd in 2014.
Local heroine Shelley Taylor-Smith reports, “The Swim the Swam is offering $112,000 in overall prize money in the 10 km event including $81,000 to be awarded at the elite 10 km event. The first place male and female winners will take home $17,000 each. A lot of federations are considering coming [to Perth] for a team camp. World-ranked swimmers have registered their interest including [Olympic champion] Oussama Mellouli has confirmed his participation.”
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.