By Steven Munatones, Swimming World Special Correspondent
BEIJING, China, June 2. THE 58 open water swimmers who competed at the Beijing open water test event returned to their home countries today after the last qualification meet at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park.
With the final field of 25 women and 25 men set, the coaches and athletes are busy strategizing with their home coaches on how to best swim at the Olympic 10K finals: Take it out fast or draft and hang back? Feed at station #1 or station #2? Stick with the Russians…or with the British? Make a move at the 5K mark or play cat-and-mouse?
It will certainly be interesting to see the tactics at the August 20 (women) and August 21 (men) finals. An Olympic preview of the 10K event will be in the July issue of Swimming World Magazine.
Some memorable images from the qualification event this past weekend include:
* Karley Stutzel of Canada being attended to by medical professionals after collapsing at the end of the race. "I don't even remember the last loop at all," said Stutzel. "My coach said I just stumbled and collapsed when I got out of the water and struggled up on the dock."
* Paul Asmuth and Catherine Vogt feeding Chloe Sutton and Kirsten Groome at the first feeding station. "They both had great feedings," said Vogt. "Chloe swam exactly to her plan."
* Chloe Sutton on the awards ceremony. "Oh my God. This is wonderful," said Sutton after the race as she faced hoards of Chinese reporters minutes after qualifying.
