Olympic pool swimmers and open-water swimming?

Steven Munatones is probably the best person to answer this question. That said, off the top of my head the best recent examples would probably be: - David Davies (UK) - 1500m bronze medalist (2004 Olympics and 2005 Worlds), and also 10K O.W. silver medalist (2008 Olympics). - Chloe Sutton (USA) - 5K O.W. bronze medalist (2008 Worlds), and currently ranked 3rd in the world in the 400 Free (and gold medalist @ Pan Pacs) World class in open water and almost-but-not-quite world class in the pool? That's a bit more common: Mark Warkentin, Chip Peterson, Alex Meyer, Fran Crippen (all USA), as well as Petar Stoychev (Bulgaria) and Thomas Lurz (Germany). As for Phelps, he probably just doesn't have the appetite for it. To be great in open water, I think you really need to love it, and at least tolerate all the challenges that it entails (rough water, cold/hot temperatures, jellyfish, physical jostling). Speed and endurance are necessary but not sufficient. "Asked if he’d ever try the event, US swimmer Michael Phelps said, “Not a chance, no way. I won’t do open water.’’ I'm a bit surprised. Is he scared of the dangers of open water? Or is he technically competitive in open water? :rolleyes: Have there been any swimmers who won both pool medal and open-water medal in world events?

"Greta Andersen, one of swimming’s greatest heroines who not only won an Olympic gold medal and silver medal, but also won three professional English Channel races and numerous other professional marathon swims around the world." Apparently, yes there are! That's amazing! Thanks! Were there actually English Channel races (competitors swimming at the same time)?

"Greta Andersen, one of swimming’s greatest heroines who not only won an Olympic gold medal and silver medal, but also won three professional English Channel races and numerous other professional marathon swims around the world." Apparently, yes there are!

As for Phelps, he probably just doesn't have the appetite for it. To be great in open water, I think you really need to love it, and at least tolerate all the challenges that it entails (rough water, cold/hot temperatures, jellyfish, physical jostling). Speed and endurance are necessary but not sufficient. He also gains on his turns/SDK off the wall and you don't get much opportunity for that in OW!

No lane lines either. Yup, nothing to pull on if you're on your back. Or, did you mean the long, long black line on the bottom?

Yup, nothing to pull on if you're on your back. I thought only I did that. Or, did you mean the long, long black line on the bottom? This is what I meant. Or thay could have electric fences along the course.

No lane lines either.

Steven Munatones is probably the best person to answer this question. That said, off the top of my head the best recent examples would probably be: - David Davies (UK) - 1500m bronze medalist (2004 Olympics and 2005 Worlds), and also 10K O.W. silver medalist (2008 Olympics). - Chloe Sutton (USA) - 5K O.W. bronze medalist (2008 Worlds), and currently ranked 3rd in the world in the 400 Free (and gold medalist @ Pan Pacs) Davies was also in the 1500M final at Beijing. Impressive

He also gains on his turns/SDK off the wall and you don't get much opportunity for that in OW! He's not bad on top of the water either. Turns/SDK are good up to a point in LCM, he still has to be very efficient while actually swimming. Too many people don't give him enough credit for his actual swimming ability, they think it's all in his turns/sdk's.

I'm not sure but didn't Grant Hackett try out for the Oz 10k team but not make it? That's a good point. He got red-carded at the qualifying event but he was definitely in the mix when it happened. Also, he won the 2007 Australian 10K nationals.