Winning World-class Workouts

We had the opportunity to ask many of the world's best pool and open water swimmers what their most difficult practice was before the RCP Tiburon Mile this year. They gave us some insight into the incredible amount of hard work these young athletes do in order to become world-class. Here is a sampling of their workouts (all in 50-meter pool unless indicated):

Olympian and world 5K champion Melissa Gorman: 3000 + 2000 + 1000 @ 1:10 pace

Waikiki Roughwater Swim champion Luane Rowe: 10 x 800, descend 1-5

Olympic gold medalist and MythBuster Nathan Adrian: annual 24,000-yard practice on New Year's Day. "We did all kinds of stuff that took 6-7 hours total."

Olympic gold medalist Caroline Burckle: 20 x 400 every other 400 fast

World 25K champion Brendan Capell: 21 x 500 alternating 1 @ 6:10 + 1 @ 6:00 + 1 @ 5:50

World 5K and 10K champion Vladimir Dyatchin: 10 x 2500 @ 1:10 pace per 100-meter interval

World 5K and 10K silver medalist Ekaterina Seliverstova (shown above): 6 x 2000 @ 1:13 pace per 100 meters + 10 x 1000

World championship swimmer Eva Fabian: 50 x 100 @ 1:10 in 25-yard pool + 1-hour for time (did 5700 yards). Other tough workout was 2000 (descend each 500) + 3 x 500 + 2 x 100 + 2000 (descend each 500) + 3 x 500 + 2 x 100 + 2000 (descend each 500) + 3 x 500 + 2 x 100

Pan American Games medalist and RCP Tiburon Mile founder Bob Placak: 10 x 500 with last 500-yard swim at 4:33

2-time Waikiki Roughwater Swim champion and world 25K silver medalist Trent Grimsey: 15 x 500 @ 5:40, descend 1-3 (last set of 3 was 5:12, 5:10, 5:05)

Olympic gold medalist Ous Mellouli: 100 x 100, "done in high school in France on a crazy interval"

All-American J.K. Koehler: 30 x 1000 @ 11:30 interval (in a 25-yard pool) that "took 7 hours by myself, but I did it again in college with some teammates"

Olympian and world 5K bronze medalist Chloe Sutton: 30 x 100 @ 1:15 averaging 1:05-1:06 per 100 meters

RCP Tiburon Mile champion Kane Radford: 10,000 swim for time

These practices remind us of the tough workouts that 7-time world professional marathon swimming champion Paul Asmuth did at Mission Viejo Nadadores under coach Mark Schubert and the famously tough individual medley workouts that Olympic silver medalist Allison Wagner used to do.

Photo of Ekaterina Seliverstova by Daylife Publishers.

RCP Tiburon Mile Winners Take Different Approaches

Kane Radford took control of the RCP Tiburon Mile right from the start with two-time RCP Tiburon Mile champion Vladimir Dyatchin of Russia and defending champion Trent Grimsey of Australia taking their own lines towards the finish. But, it was Kane Radford of New Zealand who won the US$10,000 winner-take-all first prize in the 65˚F (17˚C) waters in San Francisco Bay this morning.

"I was grateful that I had the best line [to the finish], said Kane who finished comfortably ahead in 22:13 over Grimsey's 22:13 and Dyatchin's 22:50.

The women's race was a third-women battle between Melissa Gorman of Australia, Eva Fabian and Chloe Sutton of the USA.

There were several lead changes in the short 1.2-mile sprint race, but the swimmers were all aware of each other throughout the race. As the three women came into the harbor, Chloe and Eva went a little wide as they were swimming shoulder-to-shoulder, allowing Melissa to put on a final kick. "I saw an opening," Melissa said.

Melissa finished a stroke and a step ahead of Eva and Chloe in a close finish (24:06 to 24:08 to 24:09). "I've never won so much money in a race," said Melissa. "I am not sure what I am going to do with the money yet."

A more comprehensive story on the race is here at Swimming World Magazine.

Overall men's results:
1. Kane Radford, New Zealand, 22:13
2. Trent Grimsey, Australia, 22:18
3. Vladimir Dyatchin, Russia, 22:50
4. Ous Mellouli, Tunisia, 23:47
5. Andrew Beato, Australia, 23:58
6. John Koehler Jr., USA, 24:20
7. Thiego Pereira, Brazil, 24:23
8. Brendan Capell, Australia, 24:42
9. Zach Hansford, Australia, 24:44
10. Ben Hinshaw, USA 25:17

Overall women's results:
1. Melissa Gorman, Australia, 24:06
2. Eva Fabian, USA, 24:08
3. Chloe Sutton, USA, 24:09
4. Britta Kamrau, Germany, 24:24
5. Ekaterina Seliverstova, Russia, 24:41
6. Luane Rowe, Australia, 24:53
7. Stacey Hansford, Australia, 25:51
8. Taylor Nanfria, USA 25:58
9. Caitlin Leverenz, USA 26:00
10. Lauren Matevish, USA, 26:02

Photo shows the elite swimmer start on Angel Island, 1.2 miles away from Tiburon across the San Francisco Bay.

Copyright © 2012 by Open Water Source

Australians Sweep Waikiki Roughwater Swim

After swimming on the winning teams in the Maui Channel Swim, Trent Grimsey and Luane Rowe, both of Australia, moved to Oahu and defended their Waikiki Roughwater Swim titles yesterday, Hawaii with winning times of 42:20 and 47:21 respectively.

They are now both headed to San Francisco to see if they can continue their streak at the RCP Tiburon Mile. Olympic 1500-meter gold medalist and world champion Ous Mellouli, who has been thinking about getting into open water swimming, will give Trent a good run for his money.

With Trent and Luane's victories, the Australians have won from coast-to-coast this year in America with the top three finishers at the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim also from Australia.

Trent Grimsey On Competing Around The Pacific Rim

Herbert Krabel of SlowTwitch wrote an in-depth article on world 25K championship silver medalist Trent Grimsey, the defending champion from the RCP Tiburon Mile and the Waikiki Roughwater Swim. Trent has a full schedule for the remainder of the Northern Hemisphere summer as he takes on 10K bronze medalist Fran Crippen at the US$25,000 Portland Mile and many others at the Waikiki Roughwater Swim, the 9.6-mile Maui Channel Swim and US$10,000 winner-take-all RCP Tiburon Mile in San Francisco.

Photo by Elliot Karlan.

World Championship Men's 25K Results

Rough seas call for hardy men. The world's best marathon swimmers ventured out at Ostia Beach this Saturday morning in Rome and battled amongst themselves and the windy, wavy elements.

Valerio Cleri, who placed a close fourth in the men's 10K, captured the first swimming gold for Italy with a strong closing sprint over Trent Grimsey of Australia who swam all three events in these championships (the 5K on Tuesday, the 10K on Wednesday and the 25K on Saturday). Vladimir Dyatchin of Russia, a former 5K and 10K world champion, broadened his reportoire to the 25K, taking third.

The final results are as follows:

GOLD: Valerio Cleri (ITA), 5:26:31.6
SILVER: Trent Grimsey (AUS), 5:26:50.7
BRONZE: Vladimir Dyatchin (RUS), 5:29:29.3
4. Brian Ryckeman (BEL), 5:30:18.4
5. Loic Branda (FRA), 5:30:20.9
6. Bertrand Venturi (FRA), 5:30:22.9
7. Brendan Capell (AUS), 5:30:27.5
8. Rostislav Vitek (CZE), 5:32:38.8
9. Simon Tobin Daignault (CAN), 5:34:48.2
10. Libor Smolka (CZE), 5:35:06.4
11. Sean Ryan (USA), 5:36:22.2 - shown above
12. Andrea Volpini (ITA), 5:36:37.9
13. Manual Chiu (MEX), 5:39:12.1
14. Rodrigo Elorza (MEX), 5:43:26.4
15. Danill Serebrennikov (RUS), 5:46:21.7
16. Arseniy Lavrentyev (POR), 5:48:43.0
17. Saleh Mohammad (SYR), 5:49:30.6
18 Adel El-Beharya (EGY), 5:54:00.3
Evgenji Popacev (MKD), OTL
Mohammed Jassim Alghareeb (KSA), DNF
Alex Meyer (USA), DSQ - shown above
Mazen Metwaly (EGY), DNS
Diego Nogueira Montero (ESP), DNS

Copyright © 2009 by World Open Water Swimming Association

World Championship Men's 25K Start List

The men's 25K start list (24 individuals total) was announced by FINA for the 2009 World Swimming Championships for the 9:00 am start (Rome time) on Saturday, July 25th in Ostia Beach.

Race number, names and countries are noted below:


4. Brendan Capell (AUS)
5. Trent Grimsey (AUS)
9. Brian Ryckeman (BEL)
15. Petar Stoychev (BUL)
18. Simon Tobin-Daignault (CAN)
24. Libor Smolka (CZE)
25. Rostislav Vitek (CZE)
28. Adel El-Behary (EGY)
29. Mazen Metwaly (EGY)
31. Diego Nogueira Montero (ESP)
32. Loic Branda (FRA)
35. Bertrand Venturi (FRA)
45. Csaba Gercsak (HUN)
48. Daniel Katzir (ISR)
49. Adriano Bei (ITA)
50. Valerio Cleri (ITA)
54. Mohammed Jassim Alghareeb (KSA)
57. Rodrigo Elorza (MEX)
61. Arseniy Lavrentyev (POR)
68. Vladimir Dyatchin (RUS)
69. Danill Serebrennikov (RUS)
72. Saleh Mohammed (SYR)
78. Alex Meyer (USA)
79. Sean Ryan (USA)

Copyright © 2009 by World Open Water Swimming Association

Swimmers From Down Under Headed to Rome

The Australian national open water swimming team heading to Rome to take on the experienced Europeans, the motivated South Americans and the speedy Americans include Trent Grimsey in the 5K, 10K and 25K, Andrew Beato in the 5K, Reece Mainstone in the 10K and former world 25 champion Brendan Capel in the 25K.

On the women's side, Olympian Melissa Gorman in the 5K and 10K, Danille De Francesco in the 10K, Kate Brooks-Peterson in the 5K and 25K and Shelley Clark in the 25K will represent their country in Rome.

We expect good results from the Australians who have strong reasons for returning to the podium in Rome (see Kate on left above winning one of her 2 bronze medals at the 2007 World Swimming Championships).

We will Twitter the men's and women's 5K and 10K races from Rome. Log onto http://twitter.com/swimopenwater if you wish to follow the races live.

Photo of Kate with gold medalist Larisa Ilchenko and Ekaterina Seliverstova, both of Russia, in Melbourne after the 5K race at the 2007 FINA World Championships.

Inner Thoughts of a World-Class Open Water Swimmer

Trent Grimsey, arguably the world's best short-distance ocean swimmer who recently won the 2008 Waikiki Roughwater Swim, the 2008 RCP Tiburon Mile (shown on left), the Eyeline 1000 Noosa Ocean Swim and the 2009 Australian 5K and 10K Open Water Swimming Championships, will be competing in the 5K and 10K events at the World Swimming Championships in Rome.

We caught up with Trent during his preparations for Rome:


10Kswimmer: What is the allure of open water swimming for you?
Trent: I guess it's an Olympic sport now so that has a fair bit to do with it, but I also like that it's very tactical, so you don't have to be the fastest swimmer in the field to win.

10Kswimmer: When did you first realize that open water swimming was for you?
Trent: I think I realized that open water swimming was a path to seriously consider during 2008 when I really started to have a lot of success with it.

10Kswimmer: How many ocean swims do you think you have done in Australia or around the world?
Trent: Well, in Australia, there are quite a few ocean swims every year. In south east Queensland where I live, they have ocean swims probably every 5 to 6 weeks, that are anywhere from 1K to 3K long. Also, in New Zealand, they have a really good ocean swim series that I like to compete in. Other than that, I have not done a lot of racing overseas...although in 2008 I did a few races in the US including the RCP Tiburon Mile, Maui Channel Swim and the Waikiki Roughwater Swim.

10Kswimmer: What do you think about when you start an ocean race in Australia where hundreds of people head down the beach in a mad craze?
Trent: If there are hundreds of people in a race then start is crucial, I'll try and find the best place on the line to start from and just try and relax... maybe put my hands on my hips so as people do not stand to close to me.

10Kswimmer: Australian swimmers and lifesavers are notoriously competitive, aggressive and experienced. What do you think about when you are in a pack going around a turn buoy (can)?
Trent: I will try not to be in the middle of this pack, but if I am, I would be trying to find ways to get out. Its probably not the best thing to lift your head when going around a turn buoy.

10Kswimmer: When the surf is high, what do you think about when you are heading into shore during a tight race?
Trent: I hope my legs are fresher the the guys next to me. You also have to know if there's a wave building up behind you and know exactly when to stand up to start running.

10Kswimmer: What was your most difficult swim – either short ocean swim or longer marathon swim?
Trent: My most difficult ocean swim would of been about two months ago in New Zealand, It was the King of the Bays, a 2.8K swim in Auckland. The conditions were really bad. It was something like 15 to 20 knots. It was cold, wet and windy, I couldn't get in to a rhythym and the bouys were spaced a long way apart - I couldn't see anything.

10Kswimmer: What was going through your mind as you were doing this swim?
Trent: I hope I'm in front and I hope there's hot showers at the end.

10Kswimmer: When conditions get difficult in the open water, do you ever about quitting?
Trent: I guess the thought might cross your mind, but then you think, wait...everyone else in the race is hurting just as much as me and everyone else is having just as much trouble as me...I find that aways helps.

10Kswimmer: Are there any particular song or words that you repeated to yourself over and over again during the swim?
Trent: Pain is temporary, but pride is forever!

10Kswimmer: Are there any kind of mental games that you play to help you overcome the cold water or tough conditions?
Trent: Not really, I do get very nervous before a race so I am aways trying to control my breathing and trying to relax.

10Kswimmer: What are some of the most difficult workouts you have ever done – either in the pool or open water?
Trent: Well, my type of training is very aerobic based and I swim big KMs. About two years ago, I swam 120K in one week over 11 sessions.

10Kswimmer: The Europeans have recently dominated professional marathon swimming. How do you plan to change that?
Trent: This is a good question. I guess experience has a lot to do with being a good open water swimmer. Experience and hard work. I believe I am doing the right type of training - it's just getting the international race experience. Living in Australia, I guess doesn't really help with that because we are so far away from the rest of the world, so I think the next best thing to international racing is talking with people who have been there before and done that. I find talking with people like Josh Santacaterina and Brendan Cappel (both former 25km world champions) really helps. They are both full of great advice and are not afraid to share what they know. These guys have helped me out a lot with advice and how to prepare for a race and, I guess, even race tactics.

Onto Rome...

Focused Finishes

Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

What is the look of a champion?

Vladimir Dyatchin of Russia and Gerry Rodrigues seem to have it. In addition to great aerobic capacity, high navigational IQ and top-notch racing savvy, these guys have the intensity and focus of a champion. Look at their eyes.

Vladimir is shown above finishing at the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Championships in Seville where he qualified first for the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim. Gerry is shown below exiting the water to win the La Jolla Rough Water Swim, America’s Premier Rough Water Swim that has been held since 1916.


Trent Grimsey, winner of the RCP Tiburon Mile (shown on left) also has this eye of the tiger.

As does Britta Kamrau, the women's winner of the 2008 RCP Tiburon Mile and a 2009 honoree in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame shown on right.

Talent, toughness and tactics...they all have it.

Photo of Vladimir Dyatchin by Javier Blazquez. Photo of Trent Grimsey by Ian Thurston. Photo of Britta Kamrau by Elliott Karlan.

Copyright © 2009 by World Open Water Swimming Association

Grimsey and Gorman to Lead Australians in Rome

Winning the tough RCP Tiburon Mile (shown on left), the prestigious Waikiki Roughwater Swim and the competitive Eyeline 1000 Noosa Ocean Swim in convincing fashion is one thing, but Trent Grimsey stepped it up another notch with an impressive victory at the Australian 10K Open Water Swimming Championship in Sydney today.

Trent won by 50 meters in a time of 1:54:46 over young Rhys Mainstone (1:55.09), former 25K world champion Brendan Capell (1:55.13) and David Browne (1:55.13).

Olympic 10K Marathon swimmer Melissa Gorman (2:00.40) also won convincingly over 15-year-old Danielle Defrancesco (2:02.04), New Zealand’s Alannah Jury (2:02.10), Stacey Hansford (2:02.22) and Amy Thompson (2:02.29).

The Australia team in the 10K race at the 2009 World Swimming Championships in Rome will be represented by Trent, Rhys, Melissa and Danielle in Rome this coming July.

According to Ian Hanson, Trent made a strong move at the 7.5K mark and was looked back.

"I watched the Olympics last year and couldn’t wait to start training again to try and make the World Championships – it was so inspirational, particularly after finishing third at the [pool] Olympic Trials in the 1500 meters," said Trent who swam a 15:12. "At the moment, I'm going to keep doing the open water and the 1500 meter in the pool until I have to make choices down the track. I have tapered for the open water and I’m just going to try and hang on to the taper until the pool events in two weeks time."

Like the other cross-over athletes (i.e., pool + open water) on the world's stage, Trent told Ian Hanson that he was inspired by British swimmer David Davies who is not only one of the fastest 1500-meter freestylers in the world, but also won a silver in the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim.

"He has changed distance swimming that’s for sure; what he has done is amazing and I certainly have enormous respect for him," observed Trent.

Like her British cross-over competitors Keri Anne Payne and Cassandra Patten who both swam in the pool and won open water medals at the Beijing Olympics, Melissa will also try to back up her 10K victory with top finishes in the pool 200-, 400-, 800- and 1500-meter events.

And Melissa is, very importantly, learning how to adapt to the dynamics of open water racing. "I had to change tactics after the girls went out pretty quick from the start. It was my plan to try and get away early, but with the pace really on, I decided to sit with the pack and made my move at the 7.5K mark. The more 10K events you swim you learn not to panic when things don’t go according to plan."

With the elite open water swimming world already preparing for the London 2012 Olympic 10K races in central London, the Australians also have a long-term development plan. "It is very encouraging for our junior development that these two youngsters have stepped up so soon – it is a credit to themselves and their coaches Matt McGee (Rhys Mainstone) and Denis Cotterell (Danielle Defrancesco)," said Australian National Open Water head coach Greg Towle (shown on left).

10K Final Results:
MEN OPEN:
1. T Grimsey, Albany Creek, QLD, 1 hour 54 mins. 46 secs
2. R Mainstone, City of Perth, WA, 1:55.09
3. B Capell, St Peters Western, QLD, 1:55.13

17-18 years:
1. J Killey, Hunter, NSW, 1:55:22
2. P Ryan, New Zealand, 1:55:23
3. K Radford, New Zealand, 1:55:45

16 years:
1. M Halson, Surrey Park, VIC, 2:02:46.00
2. K Logan, Southside Aquatics, QLD, 2:04:18
3. J MacFarlan, West Coast, WA, 2:04:22

15 years:
1. J Beard, Bayside, NSW, 1:58:15
2. R Grimsey, Albany Creek, QLD, 2:06:05
3. J Richardson, Albany Creek, QLD, 2:06:06

14 years:
1. N Barrett, Gardens, QLD, 2:06:04
2. C Arthur, Gardens, QLD, 2:06:59
3. P Cobiac, United, NSW, 2:09:47

WOMEN OPEN:
1. M Gorman, Redcliffe Leagues, QLD, 2:00.40
2. D Defrancesco, Pro-Ma Miami, QLD, 2:02.04
3. A Jury, New Zealand, 2:02.10

17-18 years:
1. A Jury, New Zealand, 2:02:10
2. S Hansford, Bankstown Sports, NSW, 2:02:22
3. J Traficante, Telopea, NSW, 2:04:29

16 years:
1. D Defrancesco, Pro-Ma Miami, QLD, 2:02:04
2. C Zillman, Yeronga Park, QLD, 2:08:35
3. L McNamara, Surrey Park, VIC, 2:09:27

15 years:
1. S Watts, Cherrybrook Carlile, NSW, 2:15:08
2. S Furse, Clovercrest, SA, 2:18:20
3. C Palmer, Picton, NSW, 2:19:38

14 years:
1. B Robertson, Surrey Park, VIC, 2:09:39
2. C Hansford, Bankstown Sports, NSW, 2:13:43
3. E Suters, Campbelltown, NSW, 2:15:47

Photo of Melissa Gorman at the Beijing Olympics 10K swim by the Herald Sun.

Open Water Showdown in Guam

18-year-old Kane Radford of New Zealand will reportedly compete in the Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championship 10K race in Guam on January 12th, 2009.

Kane will showcase his talents against other young up-and-comers from Australia, Canada and the U.S. in Guam's beautiful Tumon Bay.

Kane recently upset Trent Grimsey in New Zealand's largest open water swim, the Sovereign Harbour Crossing. This was a telling victory because Trent had earlier won the Waikiki Roughwater Swim, the RCP Tiburon Mile and the Eyeline 1000 Noosa Ocean Swim this year.

Kane is preparing for the Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championship 10K race in Southern California with the famed distance training group at the Mission Viejo Nadadores under Bill Rose. "This is an amazing chance for me. To train with Bill Rose and his squad who focus on long-distance training is incredible."

In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, it will be a great race, possibly with some of the open water stars of the London 2012 Olympic 10K Marathon Swim.

Lower photo shows Kane finishing first at the Sovereign Harbour Crossing. finish line.

Tiburon on TV on Thanksgiving

Comcast SportsNet Bay Area will broadcast the 2008 RCP Tiburon Mile four separate times in November and December.

The first broadcast of this annual event will be at 7 pm PT on Thursday, November 27, 2008. The other three broadcasts will be on Monday, December 1st at 6 pm PT, on Tuesday, December 9th at 6:30 pm PT and on Sunday, December 14th at 5 pm PT.

If your household gets the Comcast SportsNet Bay Area signal, do not miss this exciting open water swimming broadcast where Trent Grimsey of Australia took a gamble and surprised an amazing field of Olympic and world champions at the 9th annual RCP Tiburon Mile.

The broadcast will show how Grimsey swam all by himself, far to the left of the main pack, but still won by 14 seconds over Olympic 10K bronze medalist Thomas Lurz, multi-time world open water champion Vladimir Dyatchin of Russia, Brendan Capell of Australia and 2008 Olympic 1500-meter gold medalist Oussama Mellouli.

The Comcast broadcast (see below) will showcase 800+ other swimmers who ventured across the 1.2-mile channel from Angel Island to the City of Tiburon just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Footage will capture how the lead pack with Lurz, Dyatchin, Capell and Mellouli were all jostling with each other, but they couldn’t chase down the lone Grimsey.

The women's race was equally compelling, but the lead women were much closer to one another. "I could see all my competitors and knew where they were," said world 25K open water champion Britta Kamrau. Kamrau reached the shoreline together with two-time world open water silver medalist Ekaterina Seliverstova of Russia. As they both ran up the beach, Kamrau was just a step ahead. “I am not good at running and I have never done a race where there is a run at the finish. I just put one step ahead of the other and beat [Seliverstova].”



Kirsten Groome of Louisiana and Luane Rowe of Sydney followed closely behind the top two women to take third and fourth respectively.

The top 25 overall swimmers are as follows:

1. Trent Grimsey in 20:31
2. Thomas Lurz in 20:45
3. Vladimir Dyatchin in 20:46
4. Brendan Capell in 20:47
5. Oussama Mellouli in 20:52
6. Andrew Beato in 21:14
7. Charles Cullom in 21:16
8. John K. Koehler in 21:37
9. Charles Peterson in 21:44
10. Aljaz Ojstersek in 21:46
11. Britt Kamrau in 21:48 [first woman]
12. Ekaterina Seliverstova in 21:49 [second woman]
13. Kirsten Groome in 21:54 [third woman]
14. Luane Rowe in 21:57 [fourth woman]
15. Alex Kostich in 21:59
16. Eva Fabian in 22:00 [fifth woman]
17. Dawn Heckman in 22:00 [sixth woman]
18. Chloe Sutton in 22:01 [seventh woman]
19. Noa Sakamoto in 22:09
20. Charlie Rimkus in 22:09
21. Steffan Troxel in 22:10
22. Sergiy Fesenko in 22:30
23. Angela Duckworth in 22:34
24. Erik Vendt in 22:37
25. John Flanagan in 22:39

Bob Placak is the founder of the RCP Tiburon Mile and a nominee for the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year.

Photo copyright by Elliott. Used by permission. Photo shows the different colored caps of the elite swimmers.

Three-peat for Radford in the Harbour

Scott Rice, one of the nominees for the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year (see below), is one of the few people who can halt all marine traffic in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city.

But, it was 18-year-old Kane Radford who was the talk of the town after his surprisingly powerful win over Trent Grimsey who won the Waikiki Roughwater Swim, the RCP Tiburon Mile and the Eyeline 1000 Noosa Ocean Swim earlier this year.

In only its fifth year, Rice has built up the Sovereign Harbour Crossing, to be the biggest ocean swim in New Zealand, attracting 1,440 entrants to the 2.8K race from Bayswater to downtown Auckland. The Sovereign Harbour Crossing is the first of five races in the popular Sovereign New Zealand Ocean Swim Series. In a country of only 4.1 million people, this is equivalent of having 103,000 swimmers in a single open water swim in the U.S.

Radford was not given an opportunity to qualify for the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim, but he apparently has plans to rectify that situation for London in 2012. Radford will soon start training with Olympian open water swimmer Chloe Sutton and the famed distance training group at the Mission Viejo Nadadores under Bill Rose, the head open water swimming coach for the US. "This is an amazing chance for me. To train with Bill Rose and his squad who focus on long-distance training is incredible."

Radford swam across the Waitemata Harbour (Auckland) in 33:00, easily out-swimming Australian Grimsey (34:12) and young Aucklander Brett Newall (34:14). Double world championship bronze medalist Kate Brookes-Peterson, a native of New Zealand who is now an Australian citizen, came back home to win in 34:25 far ahead of Penelope Marshall in 36:51 and Charlotte Webby in 37:21.

Rice says the five-year milestone is a special one for the event. "In the five years of the Sovereign Harbour Crossing, we have built up real tradition and history in what is now an iconic event on the Auckland sporting and recreation calendar. Anyone can drive across the harbour bridge, take a ferry from wharf to wharf and some of us are lucky enough to have sailed in pleasure craft on the harbour. But it is a rare opportunity to be able to swim across the harbour with the support of Surf Lifesaving New Zealand, the Coastguard and the port authorities. That is part of what makes this event so special, the rare nature of it and the sheer challenge of it. For many people this is the biggest and most demanding event they will take on in their lives. Consequently the sense of achievement upon making the finish line is huge. The smiles on the faces of all who make it bring as much joy to us as organizers as it does to them as individuals."

One of the finishers was 74-year-old Dick Smith who completed his first open water swim in 1951 and finished this race in 1:00:36.

Upper photo of Radford at finish line. Middle photo of Kane after race. Lower photo of Kate Brookes-Peterson at the 2007 World Swimming Championships.

Reminder: the World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year and the World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year voting continues. Click here for more details of the male nominees and here for the female nominees.

Grimsey Back on Track

After a strong summer when Trent Grimsey handily won the Waikiki Roughwater Swim and the RCP Tiburon Mile, he came up against the reality of international marathon swims when he was misdirected around one of the turn buoys during the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Cancun and finished 11th after leading most of the race.

But Grimsey is back after winning the Eyeline 1000 Noosa Ocean Swim against an accomplished field. The 20th annual race has been won before by Australian greats such as Kieren Perkins, Grant Hackett and Ky Hurst. Grimsey seems comfortable picking up the Australian banner.

Grimsey won in 12 minutes 37 seconds, winning AUS$1,100. "...I haven't been too bad at the open water, so it's something I'll definitely be looking at doing more of towards the London Olympics," said the mild-mannered Grimsey.

Grimsey beat Australian under-19 Ironman champion Matt Poole (12:46) and Nick D'Arcy (12:49) in a course that is very similar to the Great North Swim in Lake Windermere, England.

The Eyeline 1000 Noosa Ocean Swim is part of a greater sporting festival with several different events that is broadcast on Australian television.

Photo from the Eyeline 1000 Noosa Ocean Swim website.

Pro Season Climax in Cancun

The FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup circuit climaxed in Cancun, Mexico today.

FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee chairman Sid Cassidy was in Cancun and gives a first-person account here for Swimming World Magazine.

One main story line included the loss by RCP Tiburon Mile winner Trent Grimsey who made a key navigational mistake towards the end, opening up an opportunity for Thomas Lurz to take a one-second victory over Mexico’s Ivan Lopez who was, in turn, one second ahead of Russia’s Daniil Serebrennikov.

The second main story line was an old story where Olympic 10K gold medalist Larisa Ilchenko overtook Angela Maurerby a second and Britta Kamrau by two seconds.

Women's Results
1. Larisa Ilchenko (RUS), 2:02:04.42
2. Angela Mauer (GER), 2:02:05.35
3. Britta Kamrau (GER), 2:02:06.47
4. Ana Marcela Cunha (BRA), 2:02:08.76
5. Imelda Martinez (MEX), 2:02:12.06
6. Alice Franco (ITA), 2:02:16.13
7. Esther Nunez (ESP), 2:02:29.63
8. Natalya Pankina (RUS), 2:04:20.67
9. Alejandra Gonzalez (MEX) , 2:04:21.18
10.Shelley Clark (AUS), 2:06:45.77
11.Lily Anzueto (MEX), 2:08:38.93
12.Odette Saldivar (MEX), 2:09:09.50
13.Melsie Munoz (GUA), 2:19:01.59

Men's Results
1. Thomas Lurz (GER), 1:52.23.31
2. Ivan Lopez (MEX), 1:52:24.65
3. Daniil Serebrennikov (RUS), 1:52:27.08
4. Valerio Cleri (ITA), 1:52:31.05
5. Yuri Kudinov (RUS), 1:52:32.43
6. Daniel Delgadillo (MEX), 1:52:33.84
7. Mazen Aziz (EGY), 1:52:35.02
8. Allan Carmo (BRA), 1:52:35.37
9. Damian Blaum (ARG), 1:52:37.65
10.Brendan Capell (AUS), 1:52:39.10
11.Trent Grimsey (AUS), 1:54:44.24
12.Rodrigo Elorza (MEX), 1:55:34.13
13.Pablo Villalvazo (MEX), 1:58:49.85
14.Adel Ragab (EGY), 1:58:50.20
15.Manuel Chiu (MEX), 2:00:15.58
16.Juan Prem (GUA), 2:08:30.83
17.Cecilio Chup (GUA), 2:11:52.15
DQ Luis Escobar (MEX)

Race of Champions

Trent Grimsey of Australia took a gamble and surprised an amazing field of Olympic and world champions at the 9th annual RCP The exuberance of the Olympic medalists is a joy to see.

Swimming by himself, far to the left of the main pack, Grimsey won by 14 seconds in 20:31 over Olympic 10K bronze medalist Thomas Lurz and world open water champion Vladimir Dyatchin.

Grimsey went stage left right from the start and proceeded on his own line across the 1.2-mile channel from Angel Island to the City of Tiburon just north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The lead pack with Lurz, Dyatchin, Brendan Capell of Australia and Oussama Mellouli, the 1500 gold medalist, took a different line across the channel, all drafting and jostling with each other, but they couldn’t chase down the lone-swimming Grimsey.

“I didn’t second-guess myself and once I went for it, I was committed to my plan,” said Trent factually and confidently.

Grimsey, who similarly dominated the 2008 Tiburon Mile Waikiki Roughwater Swim, is also a great pool swimmer with a best time of 15:12 in the 1500-meter freestyle. “I decided to swim wide and go to the left [of the other swimmers] because I breathe to my right and I wanted to see the field. I basically went fast the entire race.”

The women's race was much different with the women close to one another. "I could see all my competitors and knew where they were," said world 25K open water champion Britta Kamrau. Kamrau reached the shoreline together with two-time world open water silver medalist Ekaterina Seliverstova of Russia. As they both ran up the beach, Kamrau was just a step ahead. “I am not good at running and I have never done a race where there is a run at the finish. I just put one step ahead of the other and beat [Seliverstova].”

Kirsten Groome of Louisiana and Luane Rowe of Sydney followed closely behind the top two women to take third and fourth respectively.

As the open water world looks to the 2012 London Olympics, the importance of swimming fast in cold water is key. At 63°F (17°C), the Tiburon Mile provides great preparation.

More comprehensive coverage and additional photos and results will be provided by Swimming World Magazine and the Morning Swim Show.
The top 30 overall swimmers are as follows:

1. Trent Grimsey in 20:31
2. Thomas Lurz in 20:45
3. Vladimir Dyatchin in 20:46
4. Brendan Capell in 20:47
5. Oussama Mellouli in 20:52
6. Andrew Beato in 21:14
7. Charles Cullom in 21:16
8. John K. Koehler in 21:37
9. Charles Peterson in 21:44
10. Aljaz Ojstersek in 21:46
11. Britt Kamrau in 21:48 [first woman]
12. Ekaterina Seliverstova in 21:49 [second woman]
13. Kirsten Groome in 21:54 [third woman]
14. Luane Rowe in 21:57 [fourth woman]
15. Alex Kostich in 21:59
16. Eva Fabian in 22:00 [fifth woman]
17. Dawn Heckman in 22:00 [sixth woman]
18. Chloe Sutton in 22:01 [seventh woman]
19. Noa Sakamoto in 22:09
20. Charlie Rimkus in 22:09
21. Steffan Troxel in 22:10
22. Sergiy Fesenko in 22:30
23. Angela Duckworth in 22:34
24. Erik Vendt in 22:37
25. John Flanagan in 22:39
26. Isaac Howell in 22:42
27. Madison Livingston in 22:45
28. Gary Wright in 22:46
29. Brock Redondo in 22:51
30. Evgeny Bezruchenko in 22:59

Photo copyright by Elliott copyright. Used by permission. Photo shows the different colored caps of the elite swimmers.

Copyright © 2008 by Open Water Source

Ous Against The World

Who are better race car drivers: NASCAR or Formula One drivers? Who are better pilots: helicopter or jet pilots? Who can throw a ball better: quarterbacks or pitchers?

The swimming world has a similar issue - who is better in the water: pool or open water swimmers?

It is clear that the world's best marathon swimmers cannot beat world's best pool swimmers in the pool...and the reverse is generally true.*

But, the Tiburon Mile may be the best venue to determine the world's best athlete in the water. The race is not a marathon swim (i.e., over 10K), so the advantage does not go to pure open water swimmers. The race is not in a pool, so the advantage does not go to pool swimmers. Rather the distance and venue is a good compromise between pool and marathon swimming.

So, who might be the favorite in Tiburon Mile this Sunday? Smart money is on Oussama Mellouli, the 2008 Olympic 1500-meter gold medalist.

But, as many open water swimmers know, there are no lanes no lines, no walls..and no mercy.

The $10,000 winner-take-all cash prize is incentive enough, but the pride of beating Olympic medalists and world champions from 20 different countries may be the bigger honor.

Founded in 1999 by Robert C. Placak, the RCP Tiburon Mile annually attracts a wide range of swimmers between the ages of 13 and 80, but the eyes of the media and fans that line the banks of San Francisco Bay are on the elite competitors.

As a great tribute to his vision and passion for the sport, Placak has not only developed a well-deserved reputation for organizing the world’s most competitive open water race, but he has also helped raise over US$650,000 for local charities, including this year’s beneficiaries, Hospice By The Bay and the Special Olympics RCP Tiburon Mile.

Mellouli, the 2007 world champion in the 800-meter freestyle and 2008 Olympic gold medalist in the third-fastest time ever, will be facing a tough crowd, including:

• Andrew Beato, an Australian World Championship Open Water Team 5K specialist
• Evgeni Bezruchenko, Russian-born 2001 gold medalist at the World Championships in the 10K Open Water Swim and member of the 2007 Maui Channel Open Water Swim winning team and 2008 Trans Tahoe Swim winning team
• Brendan Capell, 2004 25K World Champion, 2007 2nd place RCP Tiburon Mile and highly ranked FINA World Cup and Grand Prix competitor
• Vladimir Dyatchin, Swimming World Magazine’s 2007 Male Open Water Swimmer of the Year, winner of the 2006 and 2007 RCP Tiburon Mile, multiple 10K World Champion
• Eva Fabian, 15-year-old who placed 2nd in 2008 USA Swimming National 10K Open Water Championships
• Sergey Fesenko, from the Ukraine, a three-time FINA World Cup medalist, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Team member, and 5-time NCAA All-American, 4th place in 2006 RCP Tiburon Mile and son of 1980 Olympic gold medalist Sergey Fesenko, Sr.
• John Flanagan, 4th at the 2001 World Open Water Championships and member of the 2006 and 2007 champion Maui Channel Open Water Swim team and 2004 Waikiki Roughwater Swim Champion
• Trent Grimsey, world-class Australian pool and open water swimmer and overwhelming winner of the 2008 Waikiki Roughwater Swim
• Kirsten Groome, 2006 USA Swimming 5K national champion and top 5K and 10K open water specialist
• Dawn Heckman, 14-time NCAA All-American, 1999 and 2000 Pan Pacific gold and bronze medalist and winner of the 2008 La Jolla Rough Water Swim
• Britta Kamrau-Corestein, multiple-time world and European champion in the 5K, 10K and 25K
• J.K. Koehler, Jr., NCAA 1650-yard freestyle finalist, Olympic Trials 1500-meter finalist, member of 2008 RCP Tiburon Milers’ Trans Tahoe Swim winning team
• Annika Lurz, German silver medalist in the 2005 100-meter freestyle world championships, silver medalist in the 2007 200 freestyle world championships
• Thomas Lurz, multi-time world and European 5K and 10K champion, placed 2nd in 2006 RCP Tiburon Mile after a photo finish with Vladimir Dyatchin, won the 2005 and 2006 World Open Water Swimmer of the Year and bronze medalist in the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim
• Chip Peterson, gold medalist in the 10K and silver medalist in the 5K at the 2005 World Swimming Championships, gold medalist in the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships 10K, 2007 USA Swimming 5K national champion
• Erica Rose, 1998 world 5K champion, member of six World Championship teams, on the US National Team for the past eleven years, holds nine national titles and voted USA Open Water Swimmer of the Year four times
• Luane Rowe, Australian winner of the 2008 Waikiki Roughwater Swim
• Noa Sakamoto, 2004 Olympic Trials qualifier in the 200 and 400 freestyle, 2007 Waikiki Roughwater Swim champion and member of the 2006 and 2007 champion RCP Tiburon Milers Maui Channel Open Water Swim team and 2008 RCP Tiburon Milers Trans Tahoe Swim winning team
• Ekaterina Seliverstova, Russian silver medalist in 2007 and 2008 5K World Open Water Championships
• Chloe Sutton, 16-year-old winner of the 2006 and 2007 Tiburon Mile, two-time USA Swimming national 10K champion, 10K gold medalist in the 2007 Pan American Games and 3rd-place finisher in the Olympic Trials 800-meter freestyle
• Steffan Troxel, a Scholastic All-American and a NCAA qualifier in the 1650 from Indiana University
• Eric Vendt, 2000 and 2004 Olympic silver medalist in the 400-meter individual medley, American record-holder in the 1500-meter freestyle (short course), holder of six U.S. National titles and member of 2008 Olympic Team

Additionally, members of the University of New Mexico, University of the Pacific, Stanford University and Cal Berkeley swim teams and Special Olympians from Ireland, Trinidad and across the USA are scheduled to compete.

On the media front, four-time Olympic gold medalist John Naber, three-time Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, Olympian skier Jonny Moseley and Lauren Costella will provide live race commentary in a special Comcast Sports Net broadcast in November.

Swimming World Magazine will cover the star-studded event in print and online with real-time updates provided by Twitter (by Steven Munatones).

9:00 am PT on Sunday, October 5th – catch it online, on your mobile phone, in print and on TV.

Photo of Sara McLarty, 2004 Tiburon Mile winner.

Maui No Ka Oi - Tattersalls Masters Australia

The Tattersalls Masters Australia team of Peter Thiel, Brandon Capell, Josh Santacaterina, Trent Grimsey, Cameron Smith and Josh Minogue defended its 2007 title over the perennially strong RCP Tiburon Milers in the 2008 Maui Channel Swim under stunningly beautiful conditions.

Bob Placak, founder and race director of the Tiburon Mile, annually puts together strong teams (winning in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006) for the Maui Channel Swim. With a group of national and internationally ranked pool and open water swimmers - including Noa Sakamoto, John Flanagan, Larsen Jensen, Andrew Roato and John K. Koehler, Jr. - Placak looked to captain another winning team over the defending champions from Sydney.

But the younger Tattersalls team (with a cumulative age of 150 years) took off from the start and never looked back, winning in 2 hours 53 minutes and 14 seconds over the 3:00.41 time of the RCP Tiburon Milers (cumulative age of 171 years). Third place went to the Mixed Bag Island Style team of Lisa Hazen, Ryan Bise, Trevor Gillis, Brenda Newton, Dave Stewart and Brian Kohlmeier (cumulative age of 225 years).

Concurrently, race director Ian Emberson, also holds a solo race across the Maui Channel, 9.6 miles between the islands of Lanai and Maui. Bill Goding, 55, who also successfully crossed the 26-mile Molokai Channel in 2006, won the solo competition in 3:48.55, impressively finishing 12th overall (among all teams and individuals). Alan Voisard, 48, was second individually and 14th overall with a time of 3:53.37.

Many of the Maui Channel Swim participants stayed on Maui to either vacation or participate in the Maui 'Aumākua 2.4 Mile Swim and Sprint Mile that is eloquently described here,

Upper photo from Brendan Capell's Facebook page. Lower photo from the Bank of Hawaii website.

Note: "Maui No Ka Oi" means Maui is the best.

"Next Grant Hackett" Wins Waikiki Roughwater Swim

19-year-old Australian Trent Grimsey, who swam a 15:12.36 1500-meter freestyle at the 2008 Australian Olympic Swimming Trials, has found his niche in the Pacific, as he dominated the 39th annual Waikiki Roughwater Swim. Earlier this year, Grimsey also won the 2008 Oceania 10K Open Water Championships earlier this year in New Zealand.

Grimsey led a 1-2-3 Australian sweep in the men's race, winning the swim across Waikiki in 47 minutes 59 seconds. Grimsey took off from the start and won going away. "I kept looking around, thinking I went off course."

"Trent could be [Australia's] next Grant Hackett," said distant second-place Josh Minogue finisher. "He's really good. This is not surprising to us to see him that far ahead."

Brendan Capell placed third with a time of 52:27. John Flanagan of Honolulu was fourth in 53:45, Alex Kostich of California was fifth in 52:54, and defending champion Noa Sakamoto of Honolulu was sixth in 53:12.

Similarly, Luane Rowe from Sydney convincingly won the women's division, finishing eighth overall and more than eight minutes ahead of the second-place woman. "It's hard not to get distracted. The water is so clear, and you can see all the fish."

"The Australians were very, very impressive," Flanagan said. "Two of the guys just took off in the beginning, and I knew there was no way to catch them."

The other 740 swimmers from around the world who finished the race also thought so.

Photo of Waikiki Roughwater Swim wave starts from Swim Without Borders.