by Steve Fogg
Editor’s note: TWIM Blog content is the property of Team Walker International Masters (TWIM) and the author of the article. Content may not be re-posted or published elsewhere, without permission from TWIM.
Another great International Adventure!
The afternoon of August 2, I left SeaTac for Singapore changing planes in Tokyo. After about 17 hours of flying and a day change I arrived at 12:30 AM August 4. I had booked a hotel in the Little India section of the city.
The Underground system is very convenient and covers the city very well, so with one train change I was able to get to the competition venue, which was a large sporting complex with a mall, soccer stadium, shops, etc. I got my credentials which were essential for entry and very strictly enforced.
There were two competition venues. The temporary one was constructed in a parking lot which had two 50-meter pools, lots of meeting spaces, and locker rooms. This is the venue where the Elite Worlds Swimming occurred. It was very impressive. The second (permanent OCBC Center) venue was attached to the mall and soccer stadium. This had two 50-meter pools and the Dive Tank for the Worlds. The Diving Tank pool was closed for warm up swimming on August 5, while NBC removed the broadcast scaffolding and other broadcast equipment.
The competition started August 7. The two pools felt very different during competition, Male swimmers and female swimmers alternated venues daily. My first swim was on Friday, August 8 with the 200 Back, I was very pleased with my fourth-place result! Bob Bruce with Oregon Masters finished ahead of me. In fact, Bob medaled in every event that he swam. Way to Go Bob!!
August 9 was an Independence Day celebration (60 years), and what a show! I watched the evening air show and fireworks from the hotel deck. During the day I took the Hop-on Hop-off bus and rode both routes through the city. What an easy way to see the sights! On Sunday I swam the 400 IM, and had a top 10 finish. Monday was an off day, so I spent the day in the (heavy at times) rain, at the Botanical Gardens. They were fabulous!
Tuesday, August12th, I was scheduled to swim the 100 Back and the 200 Fly. Having previously swum back-to-back events I thought I could do it, WRONG! The 100 Back was a top 10 finish, but something was very wrong with me, I made the right decision to pass on the 200 Fly as it was just 40 minutes after the 100 Back.
I contacted Coach April with BAM, we determined that with 13K+ steps per day and travel impacts that I was not getting enough to eat, so that night and the following morning I really ate, heavy on the protein. My first event on Wednesday the 13th was the 50 Back, heat five, which was early in the day. I improved on my seed position and finished in the top ten. This was my last race of the meet.
In each of my events I think there were about 20 men in my age group (75-79) with some very serious talent. The time spent in the staging area for heats (the Bull Pen) was fun interaction with people from other countries.
The next Worlds is in Budapest in August of 2027.
Editor: Steve provided the following photos from his trip:
