Great Salford Swim to round off 2010 Great Swim series this weekend
24 September
The 2010 British Gas Great Swim series comes to a close this weekend with the final event at Salford Quays.
The Great Salford Swim – the newest addition to the British Gas Great Swim Series – is a one-mile swim between two docks in the famous Quays in Manchester.
Great Britain’s World Triathlon Champion Alistair Brownlee and Olympic 10km open water bronze medallist Thomas Lurz will go head-to-head in the elite men’s race at 10:00 AM on Sunday before 2,000 members of the public follow suit between 10:30 and 15:30.
Former Olympic bronze medallist Steve Parry will take place in the public race on Sunday and swimming.org caught up with him as he prepares to combine competing and presenting Channel 4's coverage of the event.
Steve Parry Q&A
Q: Hi Steve. What made you decide to compete in the inaugural Great Salford Swim?
A: I’m presenting the series of Great Swims for Channel 4 and myself and the other presenter Natalie Pinkham always promise to do one every year. Salford is in my back yard as I now live in Manchester so it means friends and family can come down and laugh – which is nice for them!
Q: Who are you swimming for and how much are you hoping to raise?
A: I had testicular cancer last year and was treated at The Christie in Manchester. They are a phenomenal organisation and their staff are wonderful so hopefully I can raise as much as possible for them to continue their good work!! I plan to raise £20,000 over the next 12 months with a swim, charity golf day and evening event called ‘One Big Ball’!
Q: How have you been preparing for the Great Salford Swim?
A: After swimming for 20 years of my life culminating in an Olympic medal, believe it or not I’m now not a big fan of swimming a lot. I haven’t been in the water once and won’t even do a warm up but I’m confident I can get round.
My brother was a world record holder in open water and when swam the whole of Lake Windermere in trunks. I tried it but managed three seconds before jumping out.
Q: What’s your target for the event?
A: Mainly to get my wetsuit on – I was about 95 kg when I used to compete and now I weight 107!
Q: How regularly do you swim since you retired from the sport professionally?
A: Swimming is brilliant for recuperation from injury so any time I pick up a niggle, I make sure I get back in as soon as I can.
Q: Open water swimming seems to be rising in popularity every year – why do you think this is?
A: It’s liberating to swim outside and so much better than being in a chlorinated swimming pool. You feel so fresh and alive after being in and I guess that feeling can get addictive. It really is something everyone should try once.
For more details on this weekend's Great Salford Swim, click here.
If you want to leave messages of support for anyone you know competing on Sunday, leave a comment below.
Useful?
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4.36am 26th September 2010
Wendy Coles from NottinghamGo Steve
Its not far and all for a good cause
I remember your brother swimming years gone by
You might not be able to feel your feet but trust me they will still be attached when you get out
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3.47pm 24th September 2010
Jonathan Hill from East MidlandsGood luck in doing the Great Salford Swim Steve.
Are you planning to any more Open Water Swimming as well as the Great Salford Swim?
Last Year i did the Midland A.S.A Open water CHAMPIONSHIP at Bosworth Water Park 1.5K event and enjoyed doing it very much and i have got a appetite for Open Water Swimming
