SETUBAL BAY, Portugal. June 1. A swim-off is the ultimate head-to-head battle in swimming.<\/p>\n
A swim-off<\/a> is a pressure-packed race between two athletes in order to break a tie conducted in a preliminary heat in pool competitions. The winner earns the right to compete in the finals.<\/p>\n In an unusual and exciting situation in Portugal's Setubal Bay<\/a> next week, the 2012 FINA Olympic 10km Marathon Swimming Qualifier<\/a> will essentially be a swim-off<\/a> swim-off between the two representatives from each country.<\/p>\n The award? A spot in the Olympic 10km Marathon Swim<\/a> finals in London.<\/p>\n So while a typical swim-off is a short-distance race (50m or 100m) in a pool with the carrot of being able to swim in a pool finals, this open water swimming swim-off in Setubal Bay<\/a> is a number of 10,000-meter mano-a-mano contests held simultaneously between athletes (and teammates) from numerous countries. Fifteen hard-working athletes will earn the right to represent themselves and their country in the Olympic finals in front of tens of thousands of fans in the Serpentine in London – the rest will go home. Such is the competitive and cruel world of sports.<\/p>\n So while they are swimming against their fellow teammate, they are also competing against the world and must also finish in the top 15 to go to the Olympics.<\/p>\n The stakes, the pressure and the pay-off could not be higher.<\/p>\n The following 41 women are entered and ready to enter this battle: no lanes, no lines, no walls…no mercy. <\/p>\n Inha Kotsur<\/a> (AZE) How close will it be? The individual country swim-offs can be as close as this shoulder-to-shoulder finish between Jessica Roux<\/a> and Natalie du Toit<\/a> of South Africa.<\/p>\n
\nNadine Williams<\/a> vs. Zsofia Balazs<\/a> (CAN)
\nXue Li<\/a> vs. Yanqiao Fang<\/a> (CHN)
\nKarla Sitic<\/a> (CRO)
\nAlexandra Philippa Panayides<\/a> vs. Irene Kyza<\/a> (CYP)
\nNataly Caldas Calle<\/a> (ECU)
\nLaila El-Bassiouni<\/a> (EGY)
\nOphelie Aspord<\/a> vs. Corali Codvelle<\/a> (FRA)
\nWing Yung Natasha Terri Tang<\/a> vs. Fiona On-Yi Chan<\/a> (HKG)
\nAnna Olasz<\/a> vs. Eva Risztov<\/a> (HUN)
\nYumi Kida<\/a> (JPN)
\nRania El Abdi<\/a> vs. Omaima Moufid<\/a> (MAR)
\nHeidi Gan<\/a> (MAS)
\nLizeth Rueda Santos<\/a> vs. Alejandra Gonzalez Lara<\/a> (MEX)
\nMaaike Waaijer<\/a> vs. Linsy Heister<\/a> (NED)
\nCharlotte Webby<\/a> vs. Cara Baker<\/a> (NZL)
\nNatalia Charlos<\/a> (POL)
\nDaniela Pinto<\/a> vs. Ang?lica Andr?<\/a> (POR)
\nJessica Roux<\/a> vs. Natalie du Toit<\/a> (RSA)
\nAnna Guseva<\/a> vs. Ekaterina Seliverstova<\/a> (RUS)
\nZupan Teja<\/a> (SLO)
\nEllen Olsson<\/a> (SWE)
\nOlga Beresnyeva<\/a> vs. Al'Ona Berbasova<\/a> (UKR)
\nHaley Anderson<\/a> vs. Ashley Twichell<\/a> (USA)
\nYanel Pinto<\/a> vs. Carla D?az<\/a> (VEN)<\/p>\n