MORE than 200 swimmers took to the Swan River on Saturday for the 14th and final round of the 2016-17 Swimming WA Open Water Swimming Series.
The inaugural Suburbs to City swim saw competitors dash 1.3km from South Perth Foreshore to Elizabeth Quay.
While the conditions were rainy and cool, there was no dampening the excitement at the starting line as local swimmers eagerly welcomed Swimming WA ambassador and three time Olympian Libby Trickett, who flew to Perth to be a part of the event.
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READ NOW“I still try and swim two or three times a week, it’s always following the black line up and down the pool though, so open water is a very welcome change,” she said.
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Admitting her competitive spirit never really left her, Trickett was ecstatic to place third in the swim.
“I’m in it for fun and fitness but being up on the podium will always be a bonus for me.
“Having competed at an elite level for so long, a little bit of that competitive nature never really leaves.”
Suburbs to City was also a very important event for those swimmers who have been competing since October to earn points on the Open Water Swimming Series leader board.
With 13 rounds taking place over the summer, the river rush represented the last opportunity for WA’s best open water swimmers to earn series points.
Breakers Swimming Club’s Bradley Smith narrowly took out the open male category, which has proved a tough competition all season.
The female under-18s were another close category, with Bunbury Swimming Club’s Tahlia Jenson taking out the title after a speedy 15-minute crossing.