10km Swim Leads Mainstone to Rome

WAIS open water swimming prodigy Rhys Mainstone has added his name to the 2009 Australian Telstra Dolphins squad for the FINA World Championships which will be held in Rome from the 17th of July until the 2nd of August.

Mainstone (Duncraig) produced a typically tenacious swim in the men’s 10km event at the 2009 Australian Open Water Championships in Sydney to finish second in a time of 1 hour 55.09min.

National Open Water Head Coach Greg Towle was impressed with Mainstone’s swim and his preparation under WAIS coach Matt Magee and praise Mainstone along with Gold Coast youngster Danielle Defrancesco.

“It is very encouraging for our junior development that these two youngsters have stepped up so soon – it is a credit to themselves and their coaches Matt McGee (Mainstone) and Denis Cotterell (Defrancesco),” Towle said.

“Across the board we are very excited with some of the performances from swimmers who are just starting out in open water swimming and as National Head Coach I couldn’t be happier with the entries and the overall strength of our program.”

“It is very encouraging indeed and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve in Rome.”

The silver medal continues on from Mainstone’s recent success at the Junior Pan Pacs where he claimed silver competing for Australia in Guam. Mainstone also finished in a strong sixth place in the men’s open water 5km event at the Australian Championships to round off a successful venture for the 19 year-old.