Long-distance Australian swimmer Rhys Mainstone has today helped launch the 2014 BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series ‘Swim the Swan’.
‘Swim the Swan’ will see swimmers race over five distances – 500m, 1.25km, 2.5km, 5km and the Olympic Marathon distance of 10km. The course starts and finishes at the Barrack Street Jetty, and hugs the city shoreline as swimmers get the rare opportunity to swim looking up at the Perth skyline.
Mainstone praised the organisation of the swim:
“We’ve got such a fantastic open water swimming community in WA and to be able to race in the iconic Swan River is not only a great opportunity for us as elite swimmers, but also for those who just love setting themselves a challenge and achieving it.
“With events from 500m to 10km there’s a distance for everyone, and what better way to spend a Sunday morning in summer, than swimming along the river with your mates.”
Mainstone is the defending champion for the 10km event but admits this year will be a tougher field which is likely to include Olympic champion Ousa Mellouli.
“I’m really excited; we’re getting a lot of international interest about coming over,” he said. “I’m ready to defend my title and see how we go.
“A lot of people don’t like the jellies (in the Swan River) but I really like the jellyfish.
“Plus the swell and the Fremantle Doctor coming through – all the conditions can pile up and make it difficult and that’s what I like.”
> Watch Rhys in ‘Swim the Swan’ commercial below
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