Slow Twitch on Fast Swimmer

Thomas Lurz, a nominee for the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year, gave a great interview with Herbert Krebel of Slow Twitch.

In the interview, Thomas explains how the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim was similar to the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Championship 10K race in Sevilla, Spain, "…in the 10K races it mostly happened like this. Especially at rowing courses because there are no waves and you can see every swimmer clearly in the field and the last 1.5k everyone tries to do their best after 8.5k. It’s the finish."

Thomas also shared some insights on his views of the new high-tech swim suits. "I think in the swim skin development will grow up still in the next years. The companies will try to find new materials and new methods to make a better swim skin, which brings also faster times in the pool. But for the kids it’s going to be very expensive thing. To spend nearly 400 euros for a swimsuit it’s quite a lot. But I like to swim with swim skins. It could be also a possibilty for sponsors to do advertising. There is enough space on the suit."

It is another interesting article from Slow Twitch on one of the world’s best marathon swimmers who travels the world to compete in a sport he dearly loves.

More details on Thomas and the other nominees for the World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year are posted here. Information on the World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year nominees are posted here.

Photos of Thomas were taken by Giorgio Scala of Deep Blue Media.

Underwater Views of Pool and Open Water Swimmers

At the 2009 World Swimming Championships, FINA may institute an underwater camera system that will enable judges to see almost-instant video footage of any part of a race where a possible disqualification may have occurred. Very cool.

It would be, however, much tougher to do that in the open water swimming events. However, the global open water swimming community will probably be able to enjoy some great underwater photos of the 5K, 10K and 25K competitors at the Rome World Championships,

Underwater photo of the men going around a turn buoy at the 10K race at the European Open Water Swimming Championships by Giorgio Scala of Deep Blue Media

Copyright © 2008 by Open Water Source

Being a Pro Swimmer

So how much do the professional marathon swimmers earn for FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup races? In general (with exceptions), first-place finishers (for both men and women) earn US$2,500, second place earns US$2,000, third place earns $1,500, fourth place earns $1,200, fifth place earns $1,000, sixth place earns $800, seventh place earns $600 and eighth place earns $400.

Photo of Luca Ferretti taken by Giorgio Scala of Deepbluemedia.

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association

European Swimmers of the Meet Honors

Edith van Dijk and Thomas Lurz won Swimmer of the Meet honors at the recently concluded 2008 European Open Water Swimming Championships in Croatia.

It was a fitting tribute to the 35-year-old van Dijk after an illustrious career dating back to 1993. van Dijk and Lurz were given an OMEGA watch. OMEGA is one of LEN's sponsors and suppliers.

van Dijk narrowly missed a medal in all three individual events (5K, 10K and 25K) finishing fourth in all three.

Lurz immeadiately left for Lake Windermere in England to participate in the Great North Swim) after winning to the 10K and 2 bronze medals in the 5K time trial and 5K team event in Croatia.

In the team standings, Italy won with 182 points followed by Russia (176), Germany (154), Spain (132), Netherlands (94) and France (69).

Photos of Edith van Dijk (with daughter) and Italy's victorious open water swimming team taken by Giorgio Scala of Deep Blue Media.