Winning Gold Begins on Treasure Island

It might be a stretch, but NCAA Swimmer of the Year Dana Vollmer may kick-started her victorious NCAA championship season in Fiji.

As Dana won the 100 freestyle and anchored the winning relay to lead Cal-Berkeley to its first team title at the NCAA Women's Championships in her home state of Texas, we recall that Dana got her batteries rejuiced at the Fiji Swims before this year's collegiate season began.

Dana cruised in the stunningly gorgeous Fiji Swims, relaxing with 7 Olympians from 3 different countries, including Shane Gould, Allison Wagner and Murray Rose. Dana swam the 18K relay (made up of 5 Californians) and the 2.7K Beachcomber Island Race, both which finished on Treasure Island (shown here).

Every victorious swim begins with the first stroke.

Copyright © 2009 by Open Water Source

Really Tough Olympian Workouts

During the post-race festivities at the stunningly gorgeous 18K Fiji Swims inter-island Relay, four generations of Olympic medalists were discussing their toughest workouts.

Shane Gould, Murray Rose, Dana Vollmer, and Allison Wagner shared great workout stories with hundreds of open water swimmers from Fiji, all over the South Pacific islands, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.

In our opinion, Wagner's 8000-meter individual medley workouts had to be one of the toughest main sets, both mentally and physically. "It was tough," said Wagner about the 8000 IMs in a long-course 50-meter pool. "But, we just did it and worked pretty hard."

Detailed information on the event, including race results and stunning photos shot by Gould, will be posted at Swimming World Magazine.

A pre-race article was posted in the local newspaper, the Fiji Times.

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association

Olympians Gather in Fiji for Open Water

Hundreds of swimmers from around the Pacific Rim, including 7 Olympians from 3 different countries, are gathering in Fiji for 18K Fiji Swim Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa to Beachcomber Island Relay today.

The Olympians have collectively won 8 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals and include Dana Vollmer and Allison Wagner. Wagner, the 1996 Olympic silver medalist and former world record holder in the 200 IM who just came back from a 7-year retirement, said in anticipation, "I just came off of the U.S. Olympic Trials where I did the 50 and 100 frees. This [18K relay] is a bit longer, but it should be fun."

The 18K relay will be followed up by the 2.7K Fiji Swim Beachcomber Island race and the 1K Treasure Island to Beachcomber Island Swim (race course picture shown above).

Besides Wagner and Vollmer, who was part of the world record and gold medal winning 4 x 200 meter relay at the 2004 Athens Olympics, Murray Rose and Shane Gould are also participating.

Australian Rose won 4 gold medals, 2 silver and 2 bronze at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and the 1960 Rome Olympics.

Shane Gould won 3 Olympic gold medals in world record time at the 1972 Munich Olympics, together with one silver and one bronze. Gould works with the Fiji Swims organizers and Milton Nelms on a special project to help improve water safety and awareness in Fiji.

Photo shows the beautiful crystal clear channel between Treasure Island and Beachcomber Island in Fiji.

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association