The 25 finalists in the men's Olympic 10km Marathon Swim at the 2012 Olympics are good-looking, seriously-minded, hard-working individuals from 23 countries on 5 continents. They define the word Olympic hero with their athletic talents, chiseled features, handsome countenance and personable charisma. The 25 macho ambassadors of the sport are quick to
The open water swimming community is doing more and more POW (Pool Open Water) events, but the Japanese have really stepped it up a notch. Instead of doing a POW competition in a rectangular 50-meter pool, the Oiso Prince Hotel hosted a POW event in its hotel facilities at its seaside resort location - near Tokyo and only steps away from the Pacific
Pool swimming has a ready room. As do aircraft carrier pilots. The television industry has its green room. And the open water world has its tents. Tents are usually put up near the start of an open water swim where the international field gathers to check-in, get their numbers and transponders, and mentally prepares themselves for the looming
Japanese open water swimmers Yasunari Hirai and Yuto Kobayashi have a lot to face to in this Sunday's 2012 FINA Olympic 10km Marathon Swimming Qualifier. Not only must they finish in the top 15 among 62 other men with similar dreams to qualify for the Olympic 10km Marathon Swim, but they must also face each other in an open water swim-off in the survival of
At the 2012 Australian Open Water Swimming Championships in the Champion Lakes Regatta Centre in Perth this past Saturday, emerging Canadian star Richard Weinberger flew in for some good, stiff competition. 5K into the race, the young man with his eye on the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim steadily pulled away from a global field to win handily in 1 hour 53
Olympic swimming heroes and heroines have occasionally turned to open water swimming in their post-Olympic careers. Shane Gould, the five-time Australian Olympic medalist, runs the Devil of a Swim in Tasmania and continues to be a passionate advocate for learning how to swim, especially for those who live near the ocean or on island nations. Sandy
