Mainstone Making Big Waves in Open Water
WAIS open water swimming athlete Rhys Mainstone has continued his fine form in 2009 with a strong fourth place finish in the 10km event in Sharjah, UAE recently.
In difficult conditions, with a cross wind creating a small swell and causing several swimmers to withdraw from the event due to sea sickness, Grimsey and West Australian Rhys Mainstone worked together in the pack before the Queenslander made his move.
Grimsey took off with 3km to go and couldn’t be dragged in, while Mainstone stuck with the lead pack til the end, just missing out on a first ever international podium finish, to come in fourth following on from his sixth place finish in Dubai at the weekend.
“The experience of the World Championships this year has really opened my eyes to what it takes to compete at this level and my results this week have been extremely encouraging,” said Mainstone.
“Together with my coach Matt Magee we have made changes to my training and with the experience of these races I am really happy with the progress we are making heading towards next year.”
Swimming Australia Open Water Head Coach Greg Towle says with the 10km open water swim being an Olympic event things are looking good for London 2012. “Rhys, who was only swimming in his third senior international event has continued to improve and has shown this week that he is one to watch for the future.”
In the women’s 10km race 25-year-old Kate Brookes-Peterson finished ninth overall while rookie WAIS scholarship holder Melissa Benson came in 17th in a fine swim.