International swimmers set to compete in Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH - Swimmers from five states and seven countries will be competing this weekend, October 2nd ‐ 4th in Myrtle Beach at the TYR Coastal Classic, a USA Swimming sanctioned meet.

According to a news release, The TYR Coastal Classic will host 300 swimmers Friday evening through Sunday evening at Pepper Geddings Recreation Center in Myrtle Beach.

Morning sessions will provide competition for age‐ group swimmers from 16 teams throughout the Southeast. Afternoon sessions will feature top regional high school age swimmers competing against elite international swimmers from Aruba, Bolivia, Panama, Brazil, Kuwait, Venezuela, and Slovakia.

“We are really pleased with the caliber of swimming that will be represented at the Coastal Classic," Meet Director David Dear said in the release. "When we began planning this event six months ago, we never expected the level of enthusiasm and response from the international swimming community and other teams from outside the area.”

The TYR Coastal Classic marks Myrtle Beach’s entry into high‐level competitive aquatics competition.

Visiting athletes include:

Daniele Tirabassi (Venezuela), represented his country in 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 2009 World Swimming Championships in Rome

Yousef Al‐Askari (Kuwait), 15 year old boy currently training in Florida, ranked number one in the United States in several events (100 Fly, 200 Fly, 200 Free), top swimmer in the Middle East

Katarina Milly (Slovakia), one of the top sprinters in Eastern Europe, competed in the 2009 World Championships in Rome

Ismael Ortiz (Panama), 2004 and 2008 Panamanian Olympic Team member, NCAA Division II National Champion and Record Holder (Drury University)

Allyson Ponson (Aruba), 13 year old girl, Team Aruba member, elite FINA international ranking in butterfly for her age group

“Swimming is an international sport. Growing up in Brazil, when we reached a high level in our sport, foreign travel was a given,” Fabio da Silva, Head Coach of host team Coastal Aquatic Club and former Waccamaw High School Swim Team Coach said in the release. “I am excited to be a part of bringing this experience to Myrtle Beach.”

Organizers say 225 of the competing athletes will be travelling from outside the Grand Strand and will be making a direct impact on local hotels and restaurants.

Monty Morrow, General Manager of The Caribbean Resort, sees sports tourism events like this as an opportunity to grow their revenue.

“Any time that an event came bring several hundred room nights in the fall, it is significant,’ said Morrow. “But what is unique to the TYR Coastal Classic, is the growth potential and the prestige of a top‐level event. This is kind of untapped and we want to see this thing grow.”

The 2009 TYR Coastal Classic is hosted by the Coastal Aquatic Club (www.swimcoastal.com) under sanction of USA Swimming (www.usaswimming.org), the national governing body of swimming in the United States. USA Swimming is responsible for selecting and training teams for international competition including the Olympic Games.

Hours of Competition:

Friday, October 2 5:00PM‐ 7:45PM
Saturday, October 3 8:30AM‐ 1:15PM
Sunday, October 4 8:30AM‐ 3:30PM

Location:

Pepper Geddings Recreation Center, 3205 North Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

For more information on the TYR Coastal Classic, call (843) 236‐0832 or log on to www.swimcoastal.com.