The Olympians are three-time gold medalist and world record holder Amanda Beard; Hall of Famer Rowdy Gaines, who won three Gold Medals in the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and will return to the Olympics in 2008 as a commentator, and Sydney Olympics Gold Medalist in the 200m fly, Misty Hyman. The Olympians will be swimming in both the solo and relay events and will be involved in other race related events. Other distinguished swimmers include Margaret Hoelzer, a world champion and American record holder in the 200m backstroke, who is currently training for a medal in Beijing in 2008, and Pan American Gold Medalist Alex Kostich.
Competitive swimmers, swim coaches and swim enthusiasts from throughout the world will join the Olympians on a course from Buck Island, a U.S. underwater coral reef park, to The Buccaneer, a luxury destination resort on St. Croix's east end. The Buccaneer's general manager, Elizabeth Armstrong, is the event's creator and organizer.
Net proceeds from the Swim will be donated to The Nature Conservancy, which has been instrumental in establishing the East End Marine Park surrounding St. Croix. The Swim is sponsored by Hovensa, which allows for maximum proceeds to flow to the beneficiary.
The Coral Reef Swim navigates the waters of the sensitive East End Marine Park, home to coral reefs, endangered fish species and fisheries, and a high density of green and hawksbill sea turtles who return to shore to nest every summer. The first territorial park in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the East End Marine Park, protects the largest island barrier reef system in the Caribbean.
The race begins on world-famous Buck Island, which boasts a spectacular beach and living coral reef designated as an underwater park by the National Park Service, continues across a starfish-speckled, blue channel and then along St. Croix's shoreline of colorful reefs and sandy bottom. The Swim concludes at the main beach of The Buccaneer, where a palm lined finish line and steel pan band greet swimmers along with families and friends. For information and swim race registration visit www.swimrace.com.
Can't get enough of St. Croix?
Join athletes from around the world on November 18, 2007 for the Caribbean Classic Triathlon, an Olympic distance triathlon consisting of a 1500 meter swim, 40K bike and 10K run.East End Marine Park
East End Marine Park, the first territorial park in the US Virgin Islands, will protect the largest island barrier reef system in the Caribbean. Legislative approval recently made the area an official park. Extending from the high-water mark out three miles (4.8 kilometers), it encompasses 60 square miles (155.4 square kilometers) of offshore coral reef and other marine habitat.The park includes about five square miles (13 square kilometers) of "no-take areas," which are off limits to any fishing and harvesting. A turtle refuge will extend about a mile (1.6 kilometers) into the Caribbean Ocean from the shoreline of the island's primary hawksbill and green turtle nesting beaches on Jack Bay, Isaac Bay and East End Bay.
Distinguished Swimmers
Three-time Olympian, gold medalist, and world record holder Amanda Beard broke on to the worldwide scene at 14 years old. She launched her career at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Well-known for swimming expertise, she is also considered one of the most sought after models in the Olympic movement, and was named the hottest female athlete by FHM magazine. Her love for animals leads her to donate to local and national non-profits that help save endangered wildlife.Misty Hyman won Olympic Gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in the 200m butterfly in one of the biggest upsets in Olympic history. After retiring from swimming in 2004, Misty relocated to St. Croix. Misty's experience with the Coral Reef Swim was instrumental in her decision to relocate to the island:
"I came down to St. Croix for the Coral Reef Swim in 2004 and fell in love with the race and the island. My favorite part of the race was starting from one of the most beautiful beaches in the world to the sound of a conch shell blow. I can't think of anywhere else I would rather swim. The water is warm and the scenery both in and out of the water is incredible! The race is a great experience, an exciting adventure, and a worthy personal challenge. I liked [the race] so much I moved down to St. Croix only a few months later. Now that my professional swimming career is over St. Croix has been a beautiful and exciting place to transition into the next phase of my life. Here in St. Croix I get to swim in the ocean, scuba dive, and snorkel on a regular basis. Not to mention living an endless summer side by side with some of the friendliest people on the planet."
Margaret Hoelzer is a world champion and American record holder in the 200m backstroke. Margaret's main focus is training with Olympic coach Dave Marsh for another chance at an Olympic Medal in Beijing, China in 2008. In the meantime, she enjoys sharing her Olympic spirit and experience with young swimmers and Olympic hopefuls by teaching youth swim clinics and speaking to local communities. When she graduates from Auburn and obtains her goal of an Olympic medal, she wants to work with abused children. She is continuously working with different charities through the Auburn University Swim Team.
Recently inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame, Rowdy Gaines won three gold medals in the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. Rowdy is known as the ambassador of swimming. He travels throughout the world teaching swim clinics and commentating for swimming events on numerous networks. He plans to return to the Olympics in 2008 as a commentator. He is currently the chief fundraising officer for USA Swimming, and also spending his time working with various charities, including Swim Across America, Children's Miracle Network and the Special Olympics.
