Wilson Aiming for State Open Water Championship

Reigning Women’s State Open Water Champion and WAIS scholarship holder Brooke Wilson will face her strongest challenge yet when she goes up against her training partner and recent SEA Games gold medallist Heidi Gan at this weekend’s Swimming WA State Open Water Championships.

The City of Perth swimmers, who train side by side at Challenge Stadium, have created an exciting rivalry in recent years which will culminate in this weekend’s 10km event at the City of Armadale’s Champion Lakes Regatta Centre.

Gan returned from Indonesia earlier this week after competing in the 2011 South East Asia Games where she picked up gold in both the 5km and 10km open water events as a member of the Malaysian swim team.

Wilson has enjoyed success closer to home, taking out the women’s 10km event in the opening round of the Swimming WA Open Water Series in Rockingham last month, and is looking forward to the competition with Gan this weekend.

“I think it is goodracing against your competition as much as you can, andHeidi is in great form so it will begood to push each other along in this 10km race and see what the outcome will be,” Wilson said.

“My aim for this weekend is to have a good hit out and try a few different things with my race plan and tactics, and also my feeds so I will knowexactlywhat I want to do inFebruary.”

Both swimmers will be seeking advice from Coach Matt Magee, who guided the pair to this year’s Australian Open Water Championships where the two swimmers finished less than two seconds apart after a gruelling battle over 10km’s.

“This weekend is going to be a great opportunity for both Heidi and Brooke to push each other, and hopefully bring the best out in each other’s performances,” Magee said.

“Heidi swam well at the recent SEA Games and she should be confidentwith her performances. The 5k was an ugly win,but the 10km was a far superior execution in race strategy, skill and outcome”, he said.

The battle between Gan and Wilson won’t be the only highlight this weekend, with former Australian Open Water Champion and WAIS athlete Rhys Mainstone facing a challenge from three time Australian Champion Trent Grimsey.

“With Trent Grimsey coming over from QLD it should be a tough race as we always seem to push each other along,” Mainstone said.

“We are both World Championship medallists so it will be a high quality field for a State Championship.”

“I expect it to be tight, with a sprint finish the last 500m but am ready for a good solid 10km hit out.”

The 2011 Swimming WA Open Water Championships will coincide with Round 4 of the Swimming WA Open Water Series, and will be a precursor to the 2012 Australian Open Water Championships also taking place at Champion Lakes in February next year.

For further information head to www.wa.swimming.org.au

-SwimmingWA