2013 Pan American Masters Championship, The Highlights Guide

U.S. Masters Swimming Announcement: Pan-Ams Facts 1552 swimmers are competing in the swimming and open water swimming events. The youngest competitor is 18 years old and the oldest is 97. 25 countries are represented–many from the Americas, but also athletes from as far away as Kazakhstan, the Czech Republic, Russia, and Rwanda. 261 clubs are entered: Sarasota YMCA has 149 entries. Georgia Masters is the largest club outside of Florida with 39 entries. Aragua Deporte Acquaticos Club (Venezuela) is largest club outside the US with 70 entries. 4800 medals will be contested in 34 different gender/age groups. 600 entries for the 1K and 3K open water swim on June 12 at Siesta Key. All the pool swimming will be broadcast our livestream page at usms.org. Complete timeline and results at panamericanmasters2013.com. All swimming pool competition is being contested in meters, which is the Olympic format. Tuesday, June 4; Noon–8 p.m., is registration check-in at the YMCA Teen Center across the street from the Selby Aquatic Center Pool; there will be good traffic. Tuesday, June 4, 6–6:30 p.m., is the General Meeting in the grandstands of the Selby Aquatic Center; each country should have a representative. Wednesday, June 5, is expected to be the longest day finishing around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6, 10:30 a.m., is the opening ceremonies at the Selby Aquatic Center with County Commission Chair Carolyn Mason, Sarasota CVB President Virginia Haley, and Sarasota YMCA CEO Kurt Stringfellow. Thursday, June 6, is expected to be the shortest day, finishing around 1:10 p.m. Saturday, June 8, will be the busiest day, with more than 1,100 swimmers competing. Sunday, June 9, is relays: Lots of team spirit. Participants compete adding up age. For example, 160-199 means the total of all four swimmers ages cannot be below 160 nor exceed 199. Relays will be all male, all female and mixed. The most fun and energy! Sunday, June 9, 6–9 p.m., is the Pan-Am Masters Social at Ringling Museum; 400 participants have signed up to attend. Meet Pan Am Sam, the Official Mascot. Pan Am Sam, a Tube Dude made locally, is at the entrance of the Selby Aquatic Center for pictures. Olympians and Masters World Record Holders are competing within their five-year age groups. For example; 18-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90-94, 95-99, etc.Medals are given first through tenth in each age group and both genders.As an example, using the 100-meter freestyle, there will be a Pan American Masters Champion in the 18-24, 25-29, 30-34, etc. age groups, in both genders.Ricardo Monasterio (male / age 34)1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 Olympian representing Venezuela Swam collegiately at University of Florida. At Pan Ams, Ricardo is competing in: 800 freestyle (Wednesday) 400 IM (Thursday) 200 free (Saturday) 400 free (Wednesday) Erika Braun (female / age 41) Competed in 2012 USA Swimming Olympic Trials – second oldest competitor behind Dara Torres. At Pan Ams, she is competing in: 50 free (Thursday) 100 free (Friday) 50 fly (Saturday) 200 free (Saturday) Claudia Poll (female / age 41) 200 free gold medalist, 1996 Olympic Games, Costa Rica. At Pan Ams, she is competing in: 100 fly (Monday) 50 Back (Monday) 200 IM (Tuesday) Lisa Blackburn (female / age 42) 40 year old Bermuda Olympic Trial Qualifier. At Pan Ams, she is competing in: 200 Breast (Monday) 200 IM (Tuesday 50 Breast (Tuesday) 100 Breast (Wednesday) Roberto Delgado (male / age 38) 1996 Olympian, Puerto Rico. At Pan Ams, he is competing in: 100 freestyle (Friday) 50 Butterfly (Saturday) 100 Butterfly (Monday) Carolyn Boak (female / age 68) Masters World Record Holder. At Pan Ams, Carolyn is competing in: 50 Butterfly (Saturday) 100 Butterfly (Monday) 200 Butterfly (Tuesday) Keith Switzer (male / age 50) Masters World Record Holder. At Pan Ams, Keith is competing in: 800 free (Wednesday) 50 Free (Thursday) 100 free (Friday) 200 free (Saturday) Lo Knapp (female / age 59) Masters World Record Holder. At Pan Ams, Lo is competing in: 200 Breastroke (Monday) 200 Individual Medley (Tuesday) 50 Breastroke (Tuesday) 100 Breastroke (Wednesday) 400 Freestyle (Wednesday) 3K open water swim (Thursday) Diann Uustal (female / age 57) Masters World Record Holder. At Pan Ams, Diann is competing in: 200 Backstroke (Friday) 100 Freestyle (Friday) 100 Backstroke (Saturday) 50 Butterfly (Saturday) 50 Backstroke (Monday) Jack Groselle (male / age 59) representing Sarasota YMCA Masters World Record Holder. At Pan Ams, Jack is competing in: 400 Individual Medley (Thursday) 50 Freestyle (Thursday) 100 Freestyle (Friday) 50 Butterfly (Saturday) 200 Freestyle (Saturday) Cav Cavanaugh (male / age 78) Masters World Record Holder. At Pan Ams, Cav is competing in: 50 Freestyle (Thursday) 100 Freestyle (Friday) 200 Freestyle (Saturday) Bumpy Jones (male / age 80) representing Sarasota YMCA 1952 Olympian and Masters World Record Holder. Competing here along with two of his adult daughters. One of whom is a former pro triathlete, both former age-group Sharks. At Pan Ams, Bumpy is competing in: 800 Freestyle (Wednesday) 200 Backstroke (Friday) 200 Freestyle (Saturday) 200 Individual Medley (Tuesday) 400 Freestyle (Wednesday) 1K open water swim (Thursday) More Olympians (Never “former Olympian.” Once an Olympian, always an Olympian). Sergii L. Fesenko, Male, 54, Ukraine, 1980 David Gillanders, Male, USA, 1960 Graham Johnston, Male, South Africa, 1952 Mani Sanguily, Male, 80, Cuba, 1952, 1956 About U.S. Masters Swimming: U.S. Masters Swimming, founded in 1970, is a membership-operated national governing body that promotes health, wellness, fitness and competition for adults through swimming. It does so by partnering with more than 1,500 adult swim programs across the country; promoting information via the bimonthly member magazine, SWIMMER, monthly e-newsletters, STREAMLINES, and website,usms.org; and by sanctioning and promoting pool, open water, and virtual events and competitions. More than 58,000 adults are registered members of U.S. Masters Swimming.