Groome Selected to Compete in Olympic Qualifer Event in Beijing

By Robert H. Kelly
Copyright 2008 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (May 17, 2008) Kirsten Groome of the First Colony Swim Team in Houston, Texas)as been selected to represent the United States in Beijing, China in the final Olympic qualifier for the 10K open water swim on May 31-June 1, 2008. Chloe Sutton of Roseville, California will join Groome in Beijing.

While the U.S. will send both Sutton and Groome to the Beijing Test Event, only one U.S. swimmer can only qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games at the competition. Top finishers at the Beijing Test Event will fill the remaining places for the Olympic 10K marathon swim as only 25 women and 25 men can compete in the event’s Olympic debut.

Groome recently competed in the 5th FINA Open Water World Championships in Seville, Spain, where she placed 21st in the 10K open water swim. The top 10 swimmers in the 10K event at World Championships earned an automatic Olympic berth.