Correction of the Traversee Internationale du Lac Memphremagog

We extend our sincere apologies for presenting inaccurate and out-dated information on the Traversee Internationale du Lac Memphremagog course. Although the race previously started in Vermont and finished in Magog, Canada, the race is now a loop course that starts and finishes in Magog. The existing course is shown on the left. Great photos from the race can be seen Traversee Internationale du Lac Memphremagog.

Swimming from the U.S. to Canada

One of the great races on the pro FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix circuit with a long, proud history is the Traversee Internationale du Lac Memphremagog.

The race, which used to start in the city of Newport in the state of Vermont (USA) and head 34K north across the U.S.-Canadian border to finish in Magog, Canada, is now one large loop course solely inside Quebec.

The 2008 Traversee Internationale du Lac Memphremagog was the 30th edition of the race. Petar Stoychev handily won, finishing about a minute ahead of Mazen Aziz of Egypt. Stefanie Biller of Germany also won the women’s race in a dominant fashion over Britta Kamrau.

The former cross-border swim has occasionally created unusual situations for the swimmers. Scenes of Vermont reported that in the 2003 race, Mohammed Hassan from Egypt had taken three months to obtain a visa to enter the U.S. for the competition.

But, the Department of Homeland Security told Hassan that his name was on an FBI list. Because of this, Hassan would not be allowed to swim out of the United States and into Canada, but he could leave by any land exit point. The ruling was resolved when the Department of Homeland Security said Hassan could swim across the border as long as he agreed to report back to a U.S. border as soon as the race was over...which is what he did.

Photos from Scenes of Vermont.

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association

Lasting Images from Beijing - Part 15

The swimming and gymnastics Olympics finals will be held in the morning so the events can be broadcast live in the evening prime time hours in the U.S.

Because there is a 12-hour time difference between Beijing and New York, NBC can showcase the two most popular Olympic sports live here in the U.S.

While there was initial grumbling among athletes about having finals in the morning, the athletes have accepted the decision and are focused on peaking in the morning in Beijing.

But there is one group of athletes new to the Olympic family who are natural morning people: open water swimmers.

Open water swimmers, whether it is a local race, a domestic national championship or a FINA world championship event, always start in the morning. 7 am, 8 am, 9 am, 10 am – getting ready for a morning peak performance is second-nature.

Sunrise and the calm natural beauty of the shoreline and lakeside in the morning are indeed welcomed sights for open water swimmers worldwide.

Photo by Dr. Jim Miller in the morning at the famous Traversee du Lac Memphremagog in Quebec, Canada.