Individuals and groups of swimmers from near and far celebrated the return of Swim Noosa on Sunday for the first time since 2019, with the event wrapping up a great weekend of racing on the road and in the water in Noosa.
More than 1000 swimmers took part in one of four Swim Noosa events, either a 3.8km, 2km, 1km or 500m swim, with all starting from Noosa Main Beach.
Nick Sloman claimed top honours in the men’s 3.8km swim, finishing in 42:05, ahead of Hayden Cotter and Thomas Raymond.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games 10km marathon swim bronze medallist Kareena Lee was first back onto the beach in the women’s 3.8km swim in 45:35, with Finella Gibbs-Beal second and Mackenzie Winton third.
“It’s always a lovely swim here at Noosa, I absolutely love this beach, it was really nice out there, we even had a little bit of a wave which was nice to catch back in,” Kareena said.
“I’m so excited to be back, it was great to be out there swimming this morning.”
Hayden Cotter turned his second place in the 3.8km into a first in the 2km, with Finella Gibbs-Beal taking the top step on the podium ahead of Kareena Lee in the women’s 2km, with a number of the day’s top swimmers backing up for multiple races.
Harrison Turner was first in the men’s 1km, with Alexandra Cateriano the first female to finish the 1km event.
The 500m race provided a great opportunity for those new to ocean swimming, with the field a mix of juniors and newcomers.
Jake Hammond was the first male in the 500m event, with Tallow Crouch the first female.
Swim Noosa provided the perfect way for participants to round out their weekend following Saturday’s Runaway Noosa Marathon, with many backing up for two days of racing.
Race director Toby Keegan said the participants ranged in age from an 82-year-old man who competed in the 2km race, winning his age category, and the youngest an eight-year-old boy who entered the 500m race.
Toby said a couple of swim clubs entered the event including the Noosa swim club, Sunshine Coast Grammar and Brothers club from Brisbane.
A group of 21 people, friends whose kids had gone through school together, travelled from Sydney to participate.
Melissa Tudhope, from the group that called themselves Tribal Council, said the majority had competed in the 10km run in the Runaway marathon on Saturday with one or two entering the half marathon, and most doing the 1km swim on Sunday with one or two completing the 2km event.
“We feel so awesome. We’re all on a high,“ she said.
Melissa said she, like others in the group, had made the event their goal, watching their diets and progressively increasing their training distances in running and swimming.
“I went from zero to hero. It’s been going through my mind all through Covid and training has been more serious in the past six months,“ she said. Devastating for the group was the loss of one of its members who had cancer during Covid.
But for the group the completion of it was a great achievement and with most turning 60 this year it was doubly celebrated with a Sunday lunch at Rickys River Bar and Restaurant.
For more information on Swim Noosa visit runawaynoosamarathon.com.au/
