The sun, sand and waves of Copacabana Beach have Australian open water swimmer Jarrod Poort feeling right at home as he attempts to take on the discipline’s first true Olympic ocean course.
Admitted into the Games in 2008 as part of the swimming program, the marathon event now stands alone and for the first time will take place in the currents and swell of open water rather than a man-made pool.
For the 24 year-old from Wollongong, Poort, who with 17 year-old Queenslander Chelsea Gubecka, are Australia’s lone participants, it’s the ideal setup for a beach-bred competitor.
“I think it’s going to be such an exciting race out there,” Poort said today ahead of his race on Tuesday.
“Us Aussies growing up on the beach and enjoying that beach lifestyle, I think we have an upper hand there [on the Copacabana course].”
Besieged with negative headlines due to water quality concerns and a sunken starting platform, Poort offered a refreshingly positive viewpoint of a competitor keen to tackle the famed Brazilian coastline.
Organisers have opted for an in-water start after it was deemed a new starting platform – damaged by large surf in recent days – couldn’t be built in time for the women’s race tomorrow.
Australian open water swimming team leader Ron McKeon declared reports that the Copacabana water was unsafe to compete in as “unfounded” and that the Australian team were satisfied with the regular updates received from the local organising committee
After swimming the course in practice today, Poort echoed his sentiment.
“To tell the truth, it’s beautiful,” Poort said of the conditions.
“There was a lot of concerns leading into the event but for me today to swim on the course, those concerns were just wiped out of my mind.
“I’m here to race, I’m here to represent my country that I love.
“I’ve done so much hard work, I just want to get out there and let it all happen now.”
While the field is made up of some strong Euro competition, Poort said the large swell of recent days would hopefully be an advantage for the Australians.
“I think it might throw a few of them off,” Poort said.
“Then again us open water swimmers are probably some of the most versatile and adaptable athletes on the planet.
“We race in so many different conditions and places around the world. So I think a lot of people are going to be ready, and they know what to expect.”
Each event is made up of four laps of a 10km course starting from Fort Copacabana. The women’s race will take place on Monday and the men’s race on Tuesday.
Doug MacDougall
olympics.com.au
