Swimming Australia has withdrawn one of its open water swimmers from her remaining event at the 2015 FINA World Championships. Kareena Lee collapsed and was hospitalized following the women’s 10k race this past Tuesday, July 28th after suffering complications from asthma. It is reported that Lee complained of shortness of breath before collapsing just after her 10k finish, where she wound up placing 20th.
Her post-race distress was determined to have been caused by a combination of asthma, dehydration and hypothermia. Australian National Open Water Coach Ron McKeon said that Lee “had made a full recovery after being treated for 3 hours in a Kazan hospital.” After undergoing tests, Lee was able to walk out of the hospital on her own, although McKeon says “she is also a little battered and bruised from her world championships debut, which included a whack on her nose.”
McKeon has selected teammate Chelsea Gubecka to replace Lee in the women’s 25k event scheduled for Saturday, August 1st. Gubecka will join Jess Walker as the two Australian competitors in that 25k race. Thus far, Gubecka placed 13th in the women’s 10k battle, while Walker earned 5th overall in that event. At the 2013 edition of the championshps, Gubecka placed 30th in the 10k race.
I don’t think it will be a problem for Chelsea she has the ability to swim 25k the question will be how well she does I’m picking she will be in the lead group.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that 25K swimmers actually don’t have to train as HARD as 10K swimmers. The pace is astronomically slower – so its just a matter of swimming a 24.5K at a slow pace and then picking up the pace at the VERY end. If you’re swimming a 10K – chances are that you can swim a straight 25K because you have high-volume in your training already. The difference will be who has trained for the speed at the end – and that would only come if you’re training for a 10K or below.
How much more training could you possibly do? I’m going to go out on a limb and say that 25K swimmers do probably the same training as 10k swimmers just because there aren’t many of either in the world and at this level and with a lack of competition in both races and essentially all the same coaches, they probably train the same out of necessity.
Considering the race is over twice as long, I’m willing to bet you train more volume. I have previously done a 5 mile race and am currently training for a 10 mile race and my weekly volume is much greater training for the 10 mile. Even though both a 10k and 25k are long, one takes under two hours while the other takes between 5 and 6. Unexpectedly competing in a 25k is like training for a half marathon but having to run a marathon and a half.
A 25k is quite the distance to be thrown into as an alternate. I assume preparing for it entails much more training than the 10k. Good for Chelsea Gubecka for stepping up. Quite impressive!