It's time to head to Tiburon, California for the most competitive international open-water race in the world. I've gone the last four years and loved it! It's a regal setting for the best pool swimmers to face-off with the toughest open-water champions. Only one mile long, it's a true open-water sprint giving the pool athletes a shot at winning.
This year we're doing 360 degree coverage, a half-hour television show which will be distributed domestically across the nation in October to 66 million households. January, 2012, the show will be distributed globally. This would not be possible without the immense help from our friends at Finis, the world leader in technical swimming products. I've known them for many years and understand their passion for swimming. It's truly a company of swimmers, run by swimmers.
In addition to helping us with the television broadcast, they're stepping up onsite as well. Every competitor receives a free pair of FINIS Lightning Mirror Goggles. Go to www.finisinc.com for all your swimming needs.
BELOW IS THE 411 ON THE RCP TIBURON MILE
RACE FOUNDER: Robert C. Placak, USA National Team Member 1978-1984, has become an institution in the sport, well respected for running a world-class event that pits pool swimmers against open-water champions.
SEE ROBERT PLACAK'S IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW HERE with highlights from last year's competition: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=2331268769612
ONSITE SPONSOR & TELEVISION SPONSOR: FINIS, the world leader in technical swimming products
(Photo credits: Ian Thurston Photography)
ONSITE GOLD SPONSOR: Heath Net
TELEVISION PRODUCTION: Gold Medal Media, LLC
THE RACE is only one nautical mile, a true sprint in open water competition. Analysts call it, The world’s most competitive international open water.
OVER 100 OLYMPIANS, WORLD CHAMPIONS & NATIONAL TEAM MEMBERS have participated over the last 12 years.
MEN’S DIVISION:
COURSE RECORD - 18.20 – held by VLADIMIR DYATCHIN, Russian, set in 2007
Chip Peterson (TEAM USA – SWIMMING IN THE ROYAL BLUE CAP) is the 2010 RCP Tiburon Mile defending champion. The 23 year old from North Carolina, swims for the Fullerton Area Swim Team and has been at the forefront of the U.S. open water surge. At the ‘05 World Championships he won gold in the 10k and won silver in the 5k. He also earned a gold in the 1500m freestyle at the ‘05 Summer Nationals. At the ‘07 Open Water National Championships, Chip won both the 5k and 10k. Chip is the current 2010 Pan Pacific Champion in the 10k. This will be Chip’s 3rd RCP Tiburon Mile.
RYAN NAPOLEON (AUSTRALIA – SWIMMING IN THE GOLD CAP) is young in the open-water world, only 21 years. A powerhouse in the pool, Ryan won the gold in the 400 free and 800 free relay, and bronze in the 200 Free at the 2011 Australian Swimming Championships. At 2010 Commonwealth Games he won Silver in the 400 free and Gold in the 800 free relay events. These wins followed his 1500m gold at the ‘09 Australian Swimming Championships, where he broke several meet records. This will be Ryan’s 1st RCP Tiburon Mile.
VINCENT DONNELLY (TEAM USA – SWIMMING IN THE PURPLE CAP) aka Vinny, 20 years old, is from Florida and swims at Purdue University. Vinny finished 9th in the USA Swimming Open Water 10K this June and will compete for the 2nd time in the RCP Tiburon Mile. Vinny came in 6th in 2010.
ERIC NILSSON (TEAM USA – SWIMMING IN THE KELLY GREEN CAP) is 24, from Massachusetts, and swam for Northwestern Univ. He placed 12th at the 2011 USA Swimming National Champs in the 10K. In 2010 Eric won the Hawaiian Christmas Long Distance Invitational. This will be his 2nd year at the RCP Tiburon Mile.
EVGENY BEZRUCHENKO (RUSSIA – SWIMMING IN THE ORANGE CAP), born in Moscow, is 33 year old with a formidable list of wins. He was the 2001 gold medalist at the World Championships in the 10k and a silver medalist in the 5k. He’s swum the RCP Tiburon Mile 11 times, always running ashore among the top finishers. As a member of the RCP Tiburon Milers, his team took 1st in 2007, 2008, 2010 & 2011 at Trans Tahoe Open Water Swims, and 1st at the 2006 & 2007 Maui Channel Swims.
VLADIMIR DYATCHIN (RUSSIA – SWIMMING IN THE RED CAP) a 2008 Olympian who has already made the 2012 Russian Olympic Team in open-water, is 28 years old. He took 1st at the RCP Tiburon Mile in 2006 & 2007, and he holds the course record for the fastest male in the RCP Tiburon Mile, 18:20, set in 2007. Vladimir was 2nd in the 25K at the 2011 FINA World Championships, which qualified him to compete in the 2012 London Olympics. Vladimir was the 10k World Champion in 2007, 2008.
TRENT GRIMSEY (AUSTRALIA – SWIMMING IN THE NAVY CAP) returns for his 3rd RCP Tiburon Mile. He’s the ’08 champion and was 2nd in ‘09. The 23 year old is a member of the Australian National Open Water Swimming Team and he is currently Australia's highest ranked open water swimmer on the FINA Open Water Swimming world rankings. Trent was 5th in the 25K at the 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai and was 5th in the 25K Aquatics Champs in 2011.
KANE RADFORD (NEW ZEALAND – SWIMMING IN THE DARK GREEN CAP) was the ‘09 RCP Tiburon Mile Champion, and is the New Zealand National Champion in the 1500m & 800m. In the 2011 Australian Open Water Nationals he placed 1st in the 5K and 2nd at the 2011 New Zealand Open Water Championships. The 20 years old was on the 2011 FINA World Championship Team in the 10K. This is Kane’s 3rd RCP Tiburon Mile.
MOHAMED SEROUR (EGYPT – SWIMMING IN THE LIGHT BLUE) 29 years old, is a member of the Egyptian National Swimming Team and currently trains with Fast Swim Club of Texas. At the 2007 Middle Atlantic Open Water Championships Mohamed placed 1st, and at the world Cup in Lac Megantic, Canada he placed 5th. This will be Mohamed’s 1st RCP Tiburon Mile
MICHAEL SHEIL (AUSTRALIA – SWIMMING IN THE YELLOW CAP) 23 years old, is swimming in his first RCP Tiburon Mile. He recently participated on the 1st place RCP Tiburon Milers Trans Tahoe relay team and came in first place at the Escape from Alcatraz, 2011.
JP ARNOLD (TEAM USA – SWIMMING IN THE NEON GREEN CAP)
CODIE GRIMSEY (AUSTRALIA – SWIMMING IN THE LIGHT BLUE CAP)
BROCK REDONDO (TEAM USA – SWIMMING IN THE PINK CAP)
LOGAN REDONDO (TEAM USA – SWIMMING IN THE KELLY GREEN CAP)
ZAK RIDOUT (TEAM USA – SWIMMING IN THE SILVER CAP)
WOMEN’S DIVISION:
COURSE RECORD – 19:04 – held by Chloe Sutton, USA, set in 2007
CHRISTINE JENNINGS (TEAM USA – SWIMMING IN THE ROYAL BLUE CAP) is the 2010 RCP Tiburon Mile defending champion. Christine, 24, the 2010 Pan Pacific Champion in the 10k, is a candidate for the 2012 Olympic Team. She placed 2nd in the 10K and 3rd in the 5K at the 2011 USA Swimming Open Water National Champs. She won gold in the 2010 Pan Pacific Champs. She won the ‘09 and 2010 FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cups in Lac St-Jean.
EMILY BRUEMANN (TEAM USA – SWIMMING IN THE ORANGE CAP) from Kentucky will be competing in the RCP Tiburon Mile for the 2nd year. The 24 year old earned bronze in the 10k at the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships and won the 10K at the ‘09 Open Water USA National Champs. Emily is also a fighter in the pool, the ‘08 NCAA Champion in the 1650 Free.
LUANNE ROWE (AUSTRALIA – SWIMMING IN THE DARK GREEN CAP) is an Australian world-class open water swimmer with numerous race wins “down under” and in the United State. Luane 3-time Waikiki Roughwater Swim champion. She won gold at the 2010 & 2008 Cole Classic and the 2010 Bondi Beach Classic. Luane swam with the women’s RCP Tiburon Miler Wahinis in the 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011 Maui Channel Swim, winning all 4 years. This will be Luane’s 3rd RCP Tiburon Mile.
DAWN HECKMAN (TEAM USA – SWIMMING IN THE RED CAP) is a tough 34 year old with swimming chops who always threatens the young talent. She’s a 14 time NCAA All–American. At 1999 & 2000 Pan Pacific competition she won gold and bronze in open water. This will be Dawn’s 5th RCP Tiburon Mile.
MELISSA GORMAN (AUSTRALIA – SWIMMING IN THE LIGHT BLUE CAP) has raced the RCP Tiburon Mile 3 times and is the 2009 champion. (She was 2nd last year to Jennings.) The 26 year old also won the 5k at 2009 World Championships in Rome. Melissa placed 4th in the 10K at the 2011 World Champs in Shanghai qualifying her for the 2012 Olympics. She’s also a pool swimming star, winning gold in the 1500m at the 2010 Pan Pacific Games in Irvine, and bronze in the 800 Free at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
BROOKE LORENTZEN (TEAM USA – SWIMMING IN THE PINK CAP)
ASHLEY TWITCHELL (TEAM USA – SWIMMING IN THE NEON GREEN CAP)
(NOTE: Angela Duckwork, Australia, and Thiago Pereira, Brazil, are last minute scratches.)
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