That's a Wrap! Top Results at the 18th FINA World Masters Championships Gwangju 2019

The week began with the open water event, consisting of a choppy 3km course at the Yeosu EXPO Ocean Park, about 60 miles from Gwangju. This was then followed up by 7 days in the Nambu University International Aquatics Centre, a wonderful Olympic-level facility complete with both indoor & outdoor 50m warm-up pools.

Team GB had some outstanding results throughout the championships, with a significant contribution from Otter!

Hayley Davies (W 35-39) became very acquainted with the podium, totaling 4 silver medals & 2 gold medals overall, and 6 for 6 cuddly Otters! On top of that, she achieved 2 Otter club records in the 800 Freestyle & 200 Backstroke:

• 3km Open Water 41:21, 2nd

• 800 Freestyle 10:02.46, 2nd, Otter record

• 400 IM 5:31.60, 1st

• 200 IM 2:33.64, 1st

• 200 Backstroke 2:31.96, 2nd, Otter record

• 200 Butterfly 2:30.34, 2nd

Pip Bennett (M 35-39) brought home 2 bronze medals (and more Otters!), as well as achieving 2 other top-20 placings:

• 3km Open Water 42:12, 3rd

• 800 Freestyle 9:46.81, 3rd

• 400 IM 5:30.84, 15th

• 200 Backstroke 2:36.44, 14th

Catherine Demont (W 25-29) brings home a medal for finishing 5th in the 400 Freestyle (FINA award medals to top-6 placings at World Championships), along with top-10 places in all swims:

• 100 Freestyle 1:02.95, 9th

• 200 Freestyle 2:18.58, 8th

• 100 Butterfly 1:12.02, 7th

• 400 Freestyle 4:53.97, 5th

Fraser Peh (M 25-29) also took a 5th place medal in the 100 butterfly:

• 100 Butterfly 59.76, 5th

• 100 Freestyle 56.48, 22nd

Wade Rimbach (M 35-39) broke 2 Otter club records in the 200 Backstroke and the 400 IM, as well as 2 top-10 finishes:

• 200 Backstroke 2:25.58 Otter Record, 8th

• 200 IM 2:23.47, 11th

• 400 IM 5:13.55 Otter Record, 11th

• 200 Breaststroke 2:42.29, 12th

• 400 Freestyle 4:47, 9th

Enrico Hahn (M 35-39) celebrated his final meet as an Otter before returning to his native Germany, by achieving 3 top-20 finishes:

• 200 Breaststroke 2:44.52, 15th

• 100 Breaststroke 1:16.44, 24th

• 400 IM 5:32.29, 16th

• 200 IM 2:34.70, 19th

Dontony Gill-Nasadi (M 25-29) achieved a lifetime best in the 50 Breaststroke:

• 50 Breaststroke 34.68, 32nd

• 200 Breaststroke 3:00.96, 18th

• 100 Breaststroke 1:18.98, 26th

• 50 Freestyle 28.46, 52nd

• 100 Freestyle 1:04.23, 49th

Caspar Stops (M 30-34) also clocked a masters best time in the 200 IM:

• 200 IM 2:45.58, 18th

• 100 Freestyle 1:02.64, 34th

• 50 Freestyle 28.07, 45th

Michael Amos (M 60-64) dusted off his goggles for his first World Masters Championships since 2014 in Montreal:

• 800 Freestyle 12:09.86, 12th

Special mention to honorary Otters who have been past members, or competed under different teams on this occasion:

• Steve Braine (M 65-69), racing under Mid-Sussex Marlins, took home a bronze in the 100 Freestyle, silver in the 50 Butterfly and bronze in the 100 Butterfly.

• Susan Pryzwara (W 35-39), racing under SCW Eschborn, won silver in the 50 Backstroke, silver in the 200 IM and bronze in the 100 Backstroke.

• Matt Wan (M 30-34), racing under Out To Swim, finished in top-20 places in all 4 of his races.

• Adrian Murphy (M 40-44), racing under Trinidad & Tobago Aquatics, made his World Championships debut under his native country’s representing team, competing in various 50s & the men’s medley relay.

Swim England and Otter celebrate 150 years

2019 is a year of celebration for both Otter Swimming Club and Swim England as they mark their 150th anniversaries.  One of the highlights of the year will be a unique team gala event at the London Aquatic Centre on Sunday 14 July which provides an opportunity for Masters swimmers all over the country to participate in these celebrations.

Otter has secured sole use of the main Olympic competition pool in London for a fun, informal gala which will include relay and individual swimming races. The teams will comprise many different Masters clubs including some of our traditional rivals (and friends!) such as Spencer, Barnet and Teddington.  It is a fantastic opportunity not only to race in the Olympic pool but to join in the fun and celebrate the camaraderie and longevity of masters swimming. Otter is putting together a programme to include a mixture of current and historic events which we hope will feature the plunge as well as some old English backstroke and novelty relays. 

Swim England is coordinating an “All Stars Team North” and “ All Stars Team South” so that masters swimmers from across the country can join us.  If you would like to be involved please contact:

Team South: Simon Veale (simon.veale@outlook.com)

Team North: Verity Dobbie and Nicola Latty (otter150.teamnorth@gmail.com) 

Any past and present Otter swimmers who would like to be involved should email us at otter150gala@gmail.com. Please save the date now!  

2019 represents a significant milestone for Otter and we would be delighted if you would celebrate with us by supporting this special event. 

Details:

Where: London Aquatics Centre, Olympic Park, London E20 2ZQ

When: Sunday 14 July 2019.  Warm-up at 10am with racing scheduled to finish at 2pm at the latest, with socialising to follow!