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June
2010
Pan Pacific
Championships
Anyone remember going to that
meet?
The 1989 Pan Pacs was one of the
highlights of my career. I’ll never forget watching Team USA
take down four world records in one night. Janet went her
historic 8:16.22 in the 800m free. Tom Jager claimed the 50m free
(22.12), Dave Wharton got the 200m I.M. (2:00.11), and Mike
Barrowman broke the 200m breast record with a
2:13.09.
I love the competition, which is our
alternative to the European Championships. The schedule is tighter,
only 4 days, and the atmosphere is slightly more
relaxed. Also, countries can enter as many swimmers as they
like in prelims, opening the door for surprises. More than anything
else, I appreciate that the Pan Pacs is a talent incubator. New
stars rise on its international stage.
Case in point: Watch the 2006
world record setting men’s 4x100 free relay. Michael Phelps
leads off, dipping under 49 seconds and Cullen Jones shows
he’s the real deal, splitting a 47:9. VIDEO:http://www.usaswimming.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=
1419&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en
The 2010 Mutual of
Omaha Pan Pacific National Championships, August
18-22nd, promises to be just as exciting.
It’s a must-see event! All the major players are
returning: Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin, Ryan Lochte, Aaron
Peirsol; and new stars are coming on strong; Nick Thoman, Dagny
Knutson, Eric Shanteau, Chloe Sutton, Tyler Clary, and Ariana
Kukors, just to name a few.
If you’re still feeling that
rush from the Olympic Games in Beijing, maybe even wishing you had
gone, now’s your opportunity to make-up for
it. After 16 years the
Pan Pacific Championships is back on U.S. soil, in Irvine,
California (and it won’t return for another 16
years).
See the competition as it should be
seen, among your National Team peers with the USA Swimming
Foundation VIP All-Session Pass. Now this is
not just a packet of tickets to every session with great seating
directly behind the starting blocks. You get a whole lot
more:
- Nightly receptions prior to
finals.
- Complimentary Event Programs and
Daily Heat Sheets
- An All-Session Event
Credential
- Complimentary food and
drinks
- An opportunity to meet the
athletes (based on their schedule and availability of
course)
- And a ticket to attend the
“Team USA Celebration Dinner” on the final night of the
competition with the USA National Team
This is a true VIP experience.
You’ll see our swimming stars in and out of the pool with
better access than anyone else. Expect to have a great time, and
expect to be surprised, especially if you haven’t been to an
international swimming competition in the last ten years.
You’re going to appreciate how much our sport has matured
over the years.
With a donation of $1,000 for
the VIP All-Session
Pass, you can enjoy the Pan Pacs with your National Team peers
in comfort, and you can appreciate that you’re supporting the
USA Swimming Foundation’s mission: to teach every child in
American to swim. If you’ve been following the Alumni
Newsletters, you know we’re now in 42 states and over 325,000
kids have taken part in organized swim lessons through our local
partners!
Swimming, our sport, our legacy, has
come of age, and the Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific National
Championships is the ideal opportunity to witness
it.
Click here for
more information and to register, or call us at 719.866.3235 if
you have any questions. Seating is limited, so secure your VIP
All-Session Pass today and we’ll see you at the
pool!
Regards,
Mel Stewart
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