The following is a press release courtesy of Swimming Australia:
Network Ten sports journalist Lachy Reid has today challenged Australia’s Open Water swim team members Rhys Mainstone and Simon Huitenga to an open water race with a twist in Perth’s iconic Swan River.
Today’s race marked the launch of the 2015 BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series ‘Swim the Swan’ open water competition with a test of core strength and balance as the stars went head to head in a stand up paddle board competition.
Huitenga, a silver medallist at the 2013 Australian Open Water Championships and World Championship representative in 2013, believes Western Australia has a great open water community and Swim the Swan only adds to the excitement of the season.
“WA has a huge open water following so it’s great to have an event like Swim the Swan which offers open water swimmers of all categories a chance to race against some of the best in the world,” said Huitenga.
“With events ranging from 500m to 10km there is a race for all fitness levels. Whether you’re racing to improve fitness or to win some wicked prizes it’s a great way to start a summer Sunday morning.”
National open water coach and performance manager Ron McKeon says Swim the Swan could bring athletes from all over the world to compete in Perth this February.
“With the inclusion of the elite component, Swim the Swan has attracted a significant amount of international interest with countries like the United States of America, Japan, New Zealand, Italy, Canada and the United Kingdom potentially sending a contingent of athletes to Perth,” said McKeon.
BHP Billiton Iron Ore Vice President Corporate Affairs, Julius Matthys, said the Swim the Swan competition was not only a great community event, but is also popular with the Company’s employees.
“The Swim the Swan competition gets our employees excited each year. In the past two years we have entered teams of more than 100 people, and we hope to have even more competing this year,” he said.
“The Swim the Swan competition is a great opportunity for Western Australians to come together to either compete as a swimmer or to enjoy the event as a spectator from the banks of the Swan River,” he added.
Swim the Swan will see swimmers race over five distances; 500m, 1.25km, 2.5km, 5km and 10km.
There is over $80,000 worth of prize money up for grabs plus age group winners will receive a Swim the Swan prize pack.
Registrations are now open for the 2015 Swim the Swan on Sunday 1 February. To register visit www.aquaticsuperseries.com.au
The BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series is exclusive to Western Australia, managed by Swimming Australia and supported by the Western Australian Government through Tourism WA and BHP Billiton.