He and the rest of his American compatriots must finish among the top two in the 10K race or they can kiss their shot at competing in the first open water competition in the history of the Olympics goodbye. The top two men and top two women this weekend qualify for the 2008 FINA Open Water World Championships, April 29-May 4 in Seville, Spain. The top 10 finishers in Seville qualify to compete at the 2008 Beijing Olympics next summer.
“This is probably the meet that I’ve felt the most pressure going into,” said Peterson, who posted 10K victories at the 2005, 2006 and 2007 Open Water National Championships, the 2005 World Championships and the 2006 Pan American Open Water Championships. “It’s definitely a do-or-die situation. Either you’re going to make it or you’re not. It’s as simple as that. I felt this same sort of pressure going into Open Water Nationals earlier this year, but obviously this is greater because it’s for the Olympics rather than Pan Ams.”
And because the Olympic cycle comes full circle just once every four years, there isn’t the comfort and luxury of knowing there will another meet of the same stature and importance in a year or two. This meet is all or nothing for a shot at potentially making the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
“You miss a chance this time around and you have to wait another four years,” said Fran Crippen, one of the male favorites along with Peterson, Mark Warkentin, Scott Kaufman and Noa Sakamota this weekend after winning gold in the 10k this summer at Pan American Games. “Who knows what can happen in four years? I, for one, don’t want to have to wait another four years to try again. I want to capitalize this time.”
Despite being just 15 years old, Chloe Sutton is already somewhat of a veteran in Open Water circles and joins Kalyn Keller, Erica Rose and Kristen Groome as the swimmers to watch in the women’s competition this weekend.
Considering that it was just over a year ago that Sutton attended her first open water camp days before winning the 10K at 2006 Open Water Nationals, being among the United States’ favorites to compete in Beijing is still a bit overwhelming for her. Overwhelming but incredibly exciting.
“All the races I’ve swum have been steps toward this race and becoming an Olympian,” said Sutton, a two-time National Champion in the 10K. “Obviously, every little boy and girl who starts swimming has the dream to one day make the Olympic team. For me to be able to have any kind of realistic chance is overwhelming for me. I’m trying to treat this as just any other race and do what has worked for me in the past, but it’s still hard not to start thinking too much about its importance.”
A dark horse among the men is Chad La Tourette, who is still beaming from his sweep of the distance freestyle titles this summer at the World University Games. According to Crippen, La Tourette is definitely one to watch, and in the future will be spoken of as one of the United States’ great distance swimmers of all time. For La Tourette, he feels like it’s a competition that could be won by several people.
“I think that the stacked field only adds to the excitement of this race,” LaTourette said. “You have Chip, Fran, Mark, Scott and Noa, etc., who have all competed at world championship open water meets all contending for two spots. I don't think anybody should be favored going into the race or ruled out in a field of this magnitude.”
Crippen believes the women’s competition, which takes place Saturday, will be equally competitive and is wide open. “Two of my training partners, Micha Burden and Chloe (Sutton), are looking very good,” Crippen said. “Chloe has had a great open water career and is ready to go. Micha is gearing up and has worked very hard for this race. Kalyn (Keller) is definitely going to be a force. She was an Olympian in 2004 and is a great all-around swimmer.”
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