It took a long time… but after 56 years the best of the best reunited at Lac St Jean, Roberval, Quebec, Canada last week for “The Famous 1km Best In The World” competition, held in conjunction with the 6th FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships Roberval 2010.

Courtesty of Steeve Tremblay, included in the photo above are the Legendary Kings of Lake St Jean; Paul Asmuth, Claudio Plitt & Philip Rush joined by previous La Traversee crossing competitors Steven Munatones, Igor de Souza and myself.

50-year-old Argentinian, Claudio Plitt, confirmed his participation in the historical “La Traversee du Lac St Jean” for a total of 21 solo crossings and 5 double crossings which equalled over twelve (12) days of swimming.

Competition it was not! The 1km swim demonstrated that we all still “had it” and that “it” comes in various forms. Competition was not the word of the day but more readily heard were “enjoy, relax, easy, fun, friendship” and the most common was “not 2 laps please only 1 lap!”

And 2 laps it was …which left strategy to play an important part as it always does in open water swimming. Strategy: for most… to make it to the finish!

Results - Men’s: 1st Steven Munatones 2nd. Paul Asmuth 3rd. Claudio Plitt. Women’s: 1st. Shelley Taylor-Smith

Enjoy as Claudio Plitt shares his new “strategy” that he has adapted to his life after 50yrs and also how he will tackle the American Marathon Swimming Legend, Paul Asmuth.

Enjoy & Cheers
Shelley Taylor-Smith