Olympic Medalists in Lake Windermere

With the close of the Beijing Olympics and sights on the 2012 London Olympics, eyes and thoughts are now turning to England. As a follow-up to the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim, the Great North Swim will be held on September 13, 2008 in Lake Windermere, the biggest lake in England.

The first-year race reached it maximum of 2,000 athletes a few months after entries were opened. The one-mile race is open to swimmers of all backgrounds and ages with heats of 200 competing according to ability.

In addition to the 3 Olympic medalists from the U.K., David Davies, Keri-Anne Payne and Cassandra Patten, other elite swimmers include Mark Foster, an 8-time world record holder, Alan Bircher, a 2004 World Championship silver medalist, and Joanne Jackson, the 400-meter freestyle bronze medalist.