Aussie open water swimmers rallying for Olympic future
Steve Larkin |
Australia’s open water swimmers say it’s “gut-wrenching” the sport could be axed from the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
World champion Moesha Johnson and others say a part of Australia’s DNA will be lost if the sport is tossed on the Olympic scrapheap.
“To lose that high performance piece at the Olympics and the ability to be inspired to dream, that would be a real disturbance to the whole ecosystem of open water swimming,” Johnson told AAP.
“It’s in our DNA. We’re proud of our swim team and that includes our open water swimming team.”
The International Olympic Committee plans to reduce the Brisbane program from the record number of 36 sports on the 2028 Los Angeles roster.
Johnson, an Olympic silver medallist, and her Dolphins teammate Nick Sloman are among the global open water community rallying to protect the sport’s Olympic status.
“It’s gut-wrenching,” Sloman told AAP.
“Hopefully we can change the perspective of not only the world but a lot of Australians.”
Johnson won her Olympic silver medal in a 10km race in the iconic Seine River in Paris.
The reigning world champion over 5km and 10km also completed an unheralded sweep at World Cup events this year by winning every race.
“It was a shock that open water swimming was even on the cutting block for the Olympics,” Johnson said.
“Open water swimming is the original form of swimming at the Olympics.
“It’s the most traditional and rawest form of swimming, it’s very accessible all over the world.
“For Brisbane, we are almost fighting over where open water should go because we have so many beautiful venues to show off to the world and that’s something that is really important.”
Johnson said the issue ran deeper than just the Olympics.
“If we can fight for open water at the Olympics, it’s creating something for future generations to look forward to in the sport of high performance,” she said.
“But also in communities, it’s a mental health thing for young people as well, so it’s bigger than just performance at the Olympics.
“I have also been talking to my competitors and they have started speaking out.
“I have even been in contact with AOC (Australian Olympic Committee) and World Aquatics and getting everyone on board.
“Everyone isn’t just fighting for a sport on the Olympic program, but believes in our sport and our community.”
Australia’s head open water swim coach Fernando Possenti said the sport was “running out of time” to guarantee its Olympic future.
“From what I know, the venues and all the sports should be published at the end of this year for Brisbane ’32 … so probably a decision will be made in a couple of months,” he told AAP.
IOC president Kirsty Coventry has flagged “difficult decisions” to reduce the number of the sports from the LA Games to Brisbane.
“The size will change. We don’t expect to see 36 sports,” she said in May.
AAP