Smokin' Fast Open Water Swimming

What kind of talent will be at the 9th Annual RCP Tiburon Mile? Olympians, world champions, gold medalists, world-record holders and NCAA champions.

Just like the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Championships where great pool swimmers (Grant Hackett and David Davies) went head-to-head with the best open water swimmers, the Tiburon Mile will pit fast pool freestylers agains the world's best open water swimmers.

Bob Placak, the race founder, is offering $30,000 in cash prizes - including $10,000 to each of the male and female winners - which is more than the money offered on the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup and FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix circuits. Additionally, money is also raised for Hospice By The Bay and Special Olympics. To date, the Tiburon Mile has raised more than $650,000 local charities.

Confirmed elite swimmers (schedules permitting) for this year’s Tiburon Mile include:

1. Evgeni Bezruchenko, Russian-born 2001 gold medalist at the World Championships in the 10K Open Water Swim and member of the 2007 Maui Channel Open Water Swim winning team.
2. Nicholas Caldwell, 15-year-old holder of the national age group record for 11-12 age boys in the 1500m freestyle and 400m IM and youngest male qualifier at 2008 Olympic Trials.
3. Lauren Costello, All American Swimmer at Stanford, bronze medal winner in the 2003 U.S. World University Games in the 1500m freestyle and 2nd place in 2000 RCP Tiburon Mile.
4. Vladimir Dyatchin, from Russia, placed first in the RCP Tiburon Mile in 2006 and 2007, current 10K World Champion and Olympic 10K gold medal favorite.
5. Sergey Fesenko, from the Ukraine, three-time World Cup medalist, 2004 Olympic team member and son of 1980 Olympic Medalist Sergey Fesenko, Sr.
6. John Flanagan, member of the 2006 & 2007 champion Maui Channel Open Water Swim team.
7. Klete Keller, anchor leg of USA gold medal-winning 800m relay team in 2004 Olympics and member of the 2008 Olympic Team.
8. Thomas Lurz, from Germany, placed 2nd in 2006 RCP Tiburon Mile after a photo finish with Vladimir Dyatchin, won the 2005 and 2006 World Open Water Swimmer of the Year and another gold-medal favorite in the Olympic 10K.
9. Ous Mellouli, from Tunisia, NCAA Champion, 2007 World Champion 800m free and 2008 Olympic team.
10. Erica Rose, member of six World Championship teams, 11-time US National Team member with 9 national titles and 4-time USA Open Water Swimmer of the Year.
11. Noa Sakamoto, Stanford graduate, qualifier for the 2004 Olympic Trials in the 200m and 400m freestyle, 2007 Waikiki Roughwater Champion and member of the 2006 and 2007 champion Maui Channel Open Water Swim team.
12. Julia Smit, Stanford University swimmer who won 4 gold medals and 1 silver medal at the 2007 Pan American Games in July and member 2008 Olympic Swim Team.
13. Chloe Sutton, 16-year-old winner of the 2006 and 2007 Tiburon Miles, 2 two-time National 10K Champion, gold medalist in the 2007 Pan American Games 10K and 3rd-place finisher in the 800m free at the US Olympic Trials.
and 2008 Olympic Team member, placing 3rd in the Olympic Trials 800 Free
14. Eric Vendt, 2000 and 2004 Olympic silver medalist in the 400m IM, American record-holder in the 1500m freestyle (short course) with 6 U.S. National titles and member of 2008 Olympic Team.
15. Members of the Stanford and Cal Berkeley teams.

4-time Olympic gold mddalist John Naber, 3-time Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, Dara Torres, the 41-year-old 5-time Olympian and/or Natalie Coughlin are also scheduled to provide live race commentary, schedules permitting.

Can the open water specialists Vladimir Dyatchin and Thomas Lurz hold off Eric Vendt, Klete Keller and Ous Mellouli? Stay tuned - the race will be broadcast on FSN Bay Area in November.

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association