World Swimming Association?

As a member of the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee, I know that the future of open water swimmers is bright no matter what ultimately happens between WSCA and ACSA and FINA. The sport is growing too fast, including the addition of dozens of new professional swims on every continent and a tremendous amount of local and regional press coverage and corporate support (generally outside of the United States). The top athletes are treated well and the vast number of new races - amateur, pro, charity, solo and relays - simply cannot keep up with the demand. The sport is enjoying a Renaissance Period not seen since the 1920s - at every level for swimmers of every age, ability and background. It is a grass root sport that is not dependent upon the decisions of WSCA, ACSA or FINA with the obvious exception of its inclusion in the world championships and Olympics. For FINA's long-time support of open water swimming since 1991 and its support of a 10K marathon swim in the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics, the elite athletes are extraordinarily grateful. The exposure generated from the 2008 Olympics will be multiplied many times over in 2012 in Hyde Park in London and in 2016 at Copacabana Beach in Rio. These spectacular events will have a very positive spill-over effect on the sport for generations to come. Unless I am missing something (a possibility), I cannot imagine the new World Swimming Association is going to want to do much with open water swimming. It will most likely be a pool-focused endeavor and organization. Fortunately, the discipline of open water swimming has the momentum, the raw participant numbers, the natural beauty and the allure to a vast number of corporate benefactors that are often not seen by those coaches and administrators who occupy pool decks around the world.

As a member of the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee, I know that the future of open water swimmers is bright no matter what ultimately happens between WSCA and ACSA and FINA. The sport is growing too fast, including the addition of dozens of new professional swims on every continent and a tremendous amount of local and regional press coverage and corporate support (generally outside of the United States). The top athletes are treated well and the vast number of new races - amateur, pro, charity, solo and relays - simply cannot keep up with the demand. The sport is enjoying a Renaissance Period not seen since the 1920s - at every level for swimmers of every age, ability and background. It is a grass root sport that is not dependent upon the decisions of WSCA, ACSA or FINA with the obvious exception of its inclusion in the world championships and Olympics. For FINA's long-time support of open water swimming since 1991 and its support of a 10K marathon swim in the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics, the elite athletes are extraordinarily grateful. The exposure generated from the 2008 Olympics will be multiplied many times over in 2012 in Hyde Park in London and in 2016 at Copacabana Beach in Rio. These spectacular events will have a very positive spill-over effect on the sport for generations to come. Unless I am missing something (a possibility), I cannot imagine the new World Swimming Association is going to want to do much with open water swimming. It will most likely be a pool-focused endeavor and organization. Fortunately, the discipline of open water swimming has the momentum, the raw participant numbers, the natural beauty and the allure to a vast number of corporate benefactors that are often not seen by those coaches and administrators who occupy pool decks around the world.