Gorman aims for Triple Treat - 17 May 2007

Australia’s Commonwealth Games 800m silver medallist Melissa Gorman will attempt to win her third Noosa Blue Water Swim event on Sunday before heading to Brisbane for the season’s first Grand Prix Meet at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre that afternoon.

Gorman has produced some impressive performances, especially over the longer distances. She won the 1500m free, was fourth in the 800m free and sixth in the 400m free at the Telstra Australian Championships in Brisbane (Dec 06) and claimed fifth in 10km at the Swimming Australia Open Water Championships in Melbourne (Dec 06).

Gorman will face stiff opposition from Kate Brookes-Peterson, both members of the Dolphins Squad. In March Brookes-Peterson won bronze in the 5km and 10km at 2007 FINA World Championships held in Melbourne.

She has represented Australia or New Zealand at four FINA World Championships / FINA World Open Water Championships, finished sixth in 5km and eighth in 10km at 2006 FINA World Open Water Championship and won nine Australian Open Water titles (six officially and three as a visiting New Zealander). Brookes-Peterson finished second to Gorman in 2005 by just 20 seconds and will be hoping to turn the tables on Sunday.

Local girls Amy Thompson (Alexandra Headlands), and Sarah Windsor (Nambour) who finished second and third last year, a mere second separating the pair are also lining up.

Josh Santacaterina is another open water swimming champion and will be the target on Sunday. Santacaterina was third in the 1500m free at the Telstra Australian Championships in Brisbane (Dec 06)….won silver in 10km & bronze in 5km at the Swimming Australia Open Water Championships in Melbourne (Dec 06). He then won 2006/07 Swimming Australia Open Water Swimming Grand Prix Series and claimed 5th in 25km and 13th in 10km at FINA World Championships in Melbourne.

The challenges will come from local Dev Lahey who finished third last year and Codie Grimsey looking to make it onto the podium after finishing fifth in 2006.

The World Championships are the first step towards Olympic glory for the open water swimming fraternity after the 10km event was added to the 2008 Beijing Games program last year.

 “The addition of the 10km to the Olympic program has certainly been a welcomed inclusion by the open water swimming fraternity and that is the long term goal,” said Santacaterina.

Australian swimming legend of the 50’s and 60’s John Konrads will travel from his Sydney home to take compete his third Noosa Blue Water Swim and celebrate his 65th birthday on Monday 21 May.

One of the world’s great swimmers, John held numerous world records in 200, 400, 800, 1500m freestyle as well as relays, and represented Australia at three Olympics, ‘56, ‘60 and ‘64.  He is an Olympic Gold medallist (1500 Freestyle, Rome 1960) and triple Commonwealth Gold medallist (Cardiff 1958). Together with his sister Ilsa, the Konrads dominated world swimming.

“I am really looking forward to coming up to Noosa, it’s one of the most glorious places in the world,” said Konrads.

Konrads admits he’s not competitive anymore and says he takes part in up to eight ocean swims in the season.

“I’m really not out there to compete but more enjoy the camaraderie and friendships that come with taking part in these events.” 

You can be part of the Noosa Blue Water Swim by competing in either the 2km Noosa Blue Water Swim from Tea Tree Bay around the headland to Noosa Main Beach or the 1km Ray White Ocean Swim from Little Cove to Main Beach. If you think those distances are a bit out of your league then we have the new Viridian 500m Splash and Nipper Challenge along Noosa Main Beach.

If you compete in either the 2km or 1km swims stick around for presentations because you are eligible to win yourself a trip to the Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Fiji Ocean Swims Ocean. The packages include airfare for one, four night’s accommodation, transfers and event entry fee.

Events start from 8am for 2km, 9.30am for 1km and 10.15am for 500m.

For more information on the Noosa Blue Water Swim call 07 5449 0711.

For further information or to arrange interviews or photographs contact Lisa Pringle, Media Manager on 0417 005 743 or email lisa@usmevents.com.au