Sports

Richardson chases Ocean Swim Fiji record

August 20, 2012 12:57 am

18-year-old ocean swimmer, Josh Richardson of Brisbane, Australia is hoping to set a new record in the Ocean Fiji Swim race at Beachcomber on Thursday.

Fiji Swims marketing rep, Christine Connolly says Richardson is aiming to finish the race from Denarau to Beachcomber Island within three hours.

She adds swimmers from Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong are eager to compete as Fiji Ocean Swims heads into its ninth year of hosting.

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“It’s really popular and its actually been called one of the most beautiful swim in the South Pacific and it’s been named one of the top 100 open water swims to do in the world so it’s great for Tourism Fiji and it’s great for the ocean swimmers out of the cold from Australia and New Zealand to do what they love.”

The 19 kilometer race will start on Thursday morning featuring five soloists.

The event is earmarked by Olympians such as 100-meter butterfly London Olympic Games gold medallist, Dana Vollmer of the United States.

After winning gold in London, Vollmer commented that competing in the Fiji Ocean Swim event got her back into competition mode after missing the Beijing Olympic Games.