Cayman Islands Prepares Flowers Sea Swim
The Cayman Islands is gearing up for the 17th Annual Flowers Sea Swim on Saturday, June 20. Swimmers from around the globe of all different ages and ability levels will come together to compete in the destination’s one-mile open-water swim along the shores of Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach.
The Flowers Sea Swim organizers have confirmed a roster of Olympic swimmers to take part in this year’s race including multiple world record holder and 2004 U.S. Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte, who specializes in backstroke and individual medley and is a close rival (and friend) of swimming superstar Michael Phelps.
Additional talent includes Anthony Conrad Nesty, the second African American athlete to win an Olympic medal in swimming during the 1988 Summer Olympics in South Korea; Kristina Kowal, U.S. breaststroke silver medalist at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney; Neil Walker, U.S. silver medalist at the 2000 Summer Olympics and bronze medalist at the 2004 Summer Olympics; and three-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist Ian Crocker.
Past Olympic competitors in the world-class Flowers Sea Swim have included Chad Carvin, U.S. 1996 Olympic Silver Medalist and American record holder; Dian Munz, U.S. Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist; three-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist Brooke Bennett; and U.S. competitor in the 2000 Olympic Games, Rada Owen, who will return to Cayman this year to compete in the Sea Swim once again.
The Flowers Sea Swim includes travel packages for participants and their families this year at both the Westin Casuarina Resort & Spa and Comfort Suites. Swimmers –from beginners to Olympic gold medalists- will compete for prizes including roundtrip airline tickets, gift certificates to on-island attractions, cell phones and Blackberries courtesy of Digicel, and more.
The male or female swimmer who can set a new world open water record will be awarded $25,000 and $5,000 will be awarded to the swimmer able to break the current course record.
Swimmers may pre-register online at the Flowers Sea Swim website for $30. Participants can register up to the afternoon of June 19 and will be eligible for random prize giveaways. All registration fees will be donated to this year’s Flowers Sea Swim charity of choice, the Sunrise Adult Training Center.
