America's Hope in the Most Amazing Race

Erica Rose, America's best marathon swimmer over the last ten years, has confirmed her participation in the greatest endurance race of 2009: the Great Channel Swim across the English Channel.




Erica, who transitioned from the world's 5K champion in 1998 to one of the top professional marathon swimmers in the world, will face a stellar field of experienced marathon swimmers from all over the world.


Russians Yuri Kudinov and Natalya Pankina, Bulgarian Petar Stoychev, Cassandra Patten of Great Britain, Stefanie Biller of Germany and Australians Shelley Clark and Brendan Capell have committed to compete in the world's most iconic channel. The final list of competitors will be announced shortly by Nova International.

Erica has traveled the world competing against the world's fastest marathon swimmers - and she will need every kilometer of experience in the Channel:

2007
1st - 25K USA National 25K Championships
1st - 5K Chicago Big Shoulders
2nd - 9K Rosario Professional Marathon Swim in Argentina
2nd - 34K Lac Memphremagog FINA Grand Prix in Canada
3rd - 88K Hernandarias-Parana FINA Grand Prix in Argentina
3rd - 57K Santa Fe-Coronda FINA Grand Prix in Argentina
3rd - 10K Viedma Swimin Argentina
3rd - FINA Grand Prix Series (overall ranking)
4th - 10K USA National Championships
4th - 32K Lac St-Jean FINA Grand Prix in Canada
4th - 36K Capri-Napoli FINA Grand Prix in Italy

2006
1st - 10K Pan American Championships in Ecuador
1st - 5K Pan American Championships in Ecuador
1st - 25K USA National Championships
1st - 32K Lac St-Jean FINA World Cup in Canada
2nd - 10K Seville FINA World Cup in Spain
3rd - 1.5K Tiburon Swim in California, USA
4th - 10K USA National Championships
4th - 25K World Open Water Swimming Championships in Italy
4th - 36K Capri-Napoli FINA World Cup in Italy
10th - 10K World Open Water Swimming Championships in Italy

2005
1st - 25K USA National Championships
2nd - 10K USA National Championships
4th - 37K Around the Island FINA World Cup in New Jersey, USA
4th - 36K Lac Magog FINA World Cup in Canada
6th - 32K Lac St-Jean FINA World Cup in Canada
6th - 88K Hernandarias-Parana FINA World Cup in Argentina
7th - 57K Santa Fe-Coronda FINA World Cup in Argentina
7th - 21K Rosario FINA World Cup in Argentina
8th - 15K Sumidero Canyon FINA World Cup in Mexico
9th - 25K World Swimming Championships in Canada
9th - 10K World Swimming Championships in Canada

2004
1st - USA Nationals, Ft. Myers, Florida, 10K
1st - Pan American Championships, Playa Blanca, Panama, 5K
1st - Pan American Championships, Playa Blanca, Panama, 10K
2nd - USA Nationals, Ft. Myers, Florida, 25K
3rd - Tiburon Mile Swim, Tiburon, California, 1.5K
8th - Lac Magog FINA World Cup, Magog, Canada, 36K
9th - 10K for the USA, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 10K
11th - 25K World Open Water Swimming Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
16th - 10K World Open Water Swimming Championships, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

2003
1st - 10K USA National Championships
1st - 2.5K Alcatraz Shark Fest in California, USA
2nd - 25K USA National Championships
9th - 1.5K Tiburon Mile Swim in California, USA
11th - 10K World Swimming Championships in Spain

2002
1st - 10K USA National Championships in California, USA
1st - 10K for the USA in New Jersey, USA
1st - 2K Yangtzee River Crossing in China
3rd - 5K Pirate's Week in Cayman Islands
4th - 5K USA National Championships

2001
1st - 10K USA National Championships
7th - 5K World Swimming Championship in Japan
14th - 10K World Swimming Championships in Japan

2000
3rd - 5K USA National Championships

1999
1st - 5K USA National Championships
1st - 5K Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Australia
1st - 5K Pre-World Championships in Hawaii, USA

1998
1st - 5K USA National Championships
1st - 5K World Swimming Championships in Australia

1997
1st - 5K USA National Championships
1st - 5K Pre-World Championships in Australia

1996
2nd - 5K USA National Championships

We will post an interview with Erica later today. Her excitement is contagious as she gears up her training for the most prestigious, most challenging race of her career.

Upper photo provided by TYR that has sponsored Erica for years.