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Get ready for the 10th Annual Great Ohio River Swim on Sept. 24 — record number expected


A reminder that the Great Ohio River Swim will take place this Sunday. A pre-event swimming work-out session and clinic will be held in the Ohio Tiver on Friday morning. Excellent river and weather conditions are anticipated.

The 10th Annual Great Ohio River Swim (GORS) will take place on Sunday, September 24 starting at 8:15 a.m. at Cincinnati’s Serpentine Wall. This event is for people of all ages to swim, cheer on their friends and participate.

Most notably, the swim organizers have chosen to rename the swim after Bill Keating, Jr. who recently passed away. Bill, a member of the region’s first family of swimming, was a passionate participant in the swim annually and looked forward to it each year. Like many of the return swimmers, he never missed it. Since it is the 10th anniversary, new sponsors, food vendors and other activities will be part of the event.

“My father and I often raced one another during the swim and I actually beat him once. He loved the swim. Our family is honored that the committee has chosen to name the swim after my Dad. This year we are reaching out to many competitive swim teams and to all folks who love the water. The growth of this event is exactly what my Dad would have embraced,” Caroline Keating, Bill Keating, Jr.’s daughter said.

Sponsored by Outdoor Adventure Clubs of Greater Cincinnati (OAC) and managed by Joe Fung of House of Run and Tri, the annual swim has grown into the largest cross river open water swimming event on the Ohio River. A record number of teen and adult swimmers are expected to participate in the 900-yard swim from the Serpentine Wall across the Ohio to the Kentucky side and back to the finish line at the Cincinnati Public Landing. Over 1,300 people ages 10-85 have completed the Swim over the past nine years.

“This is a fun and safe opportunity for people of all ages to swim across the Ohio,” said Brewster Rhoads, Swim Co-Chair and OAC Board member. “Swimmers are invariably impressed with the cleanliness and beauty of the Ohio – and they become more committed to protecting it. Cincinnati continues to receive national recognition – recently voted by Travel and Leisure one of the places to travel in 2017. Our river is a big part of that.”

“We are anticipating record participation this year by area high school, college and club swim teams,” said Caroline Keating, Co-Chair of the SWIM. “This event is a great way to highlight Greater Cincinnati’s national reputation as a center of excellence for competitive swimming. We are also pleased to include folks who are strong swimmers, yet not competitive. This is for everyone who loves the river.”

From last year’s swim: Jerry Shulte ready to swim

Check-in and on-site registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 24 at the Cincinnati Public Landing. Parking will be available for participants on the Public Landing for $5 per vehicle.

An Open Water Swim Clinic and pre-race orientation meeting will begin at 7:30 a.m. Topics to be covered include open water freestyle stroke, sighting, drafting, currents, start and finish, lifeguards and strategy.

The clinic is free and open to the general public. One does not have to be registered for the Swim to attend. Registration and check-in will close at 7:45 am with the timed swim beginning promptly at 8:15 a.m.

Registration after September 17 and on site is $50 for all swimmers regardless of age. Registration includes t-shirt, swim cap, insurance, goodie bag and light food and refreshments. There is no charge for spectators to watch the SWIM from the Serpentine Wall.

Swim ’16: ORSANCO Team providing safety on the Ohio

The Ohio River will be closed to barge and power boat traffic by order of the U.S. Coast Guard from 8-9 a.m. Certified lifeguards and safety boats will be deployed in the Ohio during the swim. Safety boom will be deployed by Peter Cremer North America to add additional protection for swimmers as they approach the finish line on the Public Landing.

The swim will be timed. The award ceremony for winners in each competition class will take place at 9:30 a.m.

The Ohio will be tested for water quality by the Ohio River Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) in advance of the event.

Proceeds from the Great Ohio River Swim will benefit Outdoor Adventure Clubs of Greater Cincinnati, a non- profit organization that works in 20 inner city high schools to get urban teens out into nature year round to paddle, hike, bike, swim, climb and camp. More information about OAC is available at www.oacgc.org.

More information including video, race results from previous years and registration information is available at: www.greatohioriverswim.com.


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