TORONTO – It’s the marathon of swimming events – and at Toronto’s Pan Am Games the competition is going to be stiff.
This weekend, athletes will test their endurance in the gruelling open water swimming event. Competitors will swim six 1.67-kilometer freestyle laps, for a total distance of 10k.
There is a lot to deal with in the 10k event, beyond the distance. For one, open water swimming can be a contact sport.
“Anything under the water is legal,” said Canada’s Richard Weinberger, who won gold at the 2011 Guadalajara Games with a time of one hour 57 minutes 31 seconds – just 0.3 seconds ahead of silver-medal winner Arthur Frayler of the USA.
Depending on where you are competing, “stuff” in the water is also a factor. You could be swimming through seaweed; there’s already concern over pollution at the 2016 Olympic course in Rio de Janeiro.
Weinberger, who also won bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, is back to defend his title and will battle against veteran American swimmer Chip Peterson, who finished second at the 2007 Pan Am Games in Rio.
Both athletes are expected to face tough competition from the Argentinian and Brazilian swimmers.
Defending champion Cecilia Biagioli, from Argentina, is back in the women’s event. She’s expected to face tough competition from the USA’s Emily Brunemann and Brazil’s Carolina Bilich.
The women’s 10k final will be held on July 11 at 3:30 p.m. ET. The men’s 10k final is on July 12 at 3:30 p.m. ET. Both events will be held at Ontario Place West Channel (OPW).
With files from The Canadian Press
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