FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MECA-MEDINA AND MAJCEN RETURN
TO DEFEND
STRIPPED
TITLES AND HONOR IN AROUND THE ISLAND SWIM
ATLANTIC
CITY, NJ - - - (July 6, 2000)
David Meca-Medina (Spain) and
Igor
Majcen
(Slovenia) who finished first and third in the 1999 Around the Island
Marathon
Swim and whose results were later disallowed by FINA, the
international
governing body for swimming, will return to Atlantic City July
15
to compete in the 2000 Around the Island Swim and defend not only the
titles
they lost, but also their honor. The
July 15 event is the fourth of
10
FINA World Cup open water marathon events that take place on three
continents.
The two swimmers were denied their prize money and stripped of their
first
and third place wins on the World Cup rankings because they were
accused
and found guilty of steroid use in an earlier World Cup race in South
America.
The case is again under review by the International Court of
Arbitration
for Sport and the swimmers are cleared to compete in World Cup
competition
pending the court’s final decision.
Meca-Medina and Majcen will face 28
of the world’s top marathon swimmers
including
German Andre Wilde who was eventually declared the champion of the
1999
race and American Gabe Lindsey who placed fourth, but was later moved to
second
place following the disqualification.
“I am eager to return to Atlantic City and leave as a champion, not
with
a
cloud hanging over my head,” said Meca-Medina whose 6:56:43 finish was a
new
course record.
The 2000 Around the Island Marathon Swim will include the world’s top
five
professional male and female marathoners as well as the top finishers
from
the 1999 race. The field also
includes the largest U.S. and New
Jersey
contingents
and the first Cuban swimmer to every challenge Absecon Island’s
22.5
mile circumference.
“The Around the Island Swim has drawn an international field since
1954,
but
this is by far the most impressive group of competitors to ever swim in
Atlantic
City,” said Race Director Sid Cassidy.
“Not only do we have the world’s top-ranked swimmers, but we also
have
local
talent like Sean Brennan, a lifeguard from Sea Girt, who set a new
record
at the Chesapeake Bay swim,” said Cassidy.
“John Kenny, an Atlantic
City
Lifeguard beat Gabe Lindsey in USA Swimming’s 25K Open Water National
Championship
in Daytona Beach three weeks ago, so he’s a real contender, too.”
In addition to the professional race, amateur soloists, including Tiffany
Sawin
a 1999 Rutgers University Big East Academic All-Star and winner of the
1997
Miss America Pageant Swim, and Jim Mucciarone, a Margate native and
soon-to-be-retired
Navy Seal are slated to compete. Seven
relay teams,
including
a team of four disabled swimmers, will
take to the waters July
15.
As the marathoners proceed, mile and two mile races will also start and
finish
at Gardner’s Basin.
“Every race is very competitive and has some element of intrigue,”
said
Cassidy.
“This will be a very exciting day in open water swimming.”
For additional information concerning the Around the Island Marathon
Swim,
please call 1 - 888-AC VISIT or visit the swim’s website at
Contact:
Lauralee
Dobbins
609-714-6833
A
complete list of swimmers and brief bios are available upon request.
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