They did it! 1.6km Ocean Race is Great Kids Stuff
The Maccabi Australia International Games hosted for the first time anywhere in the world a Maccabi ocean swim…and top honours went to an American swimmer who recently lost a close friend in a shark attack.
19-yr-old Marcus Schlesinger from Southern California swam with the memory of one his best friends, Lucas Ransom, who was taken by a shark when body boarding off Santa Barbara, California on October 22. Schlesinger told J-Wire: “I was well aware that Bondi Beach also experiences the presence of sharks…that is one of the reasons I wanted to do this swim for Lucas…we have swum together since my first year in high school I swam it for him.”.
Schlesinger completed the course in 13.29.10, .39 of a second ahead of Yuriy Burunov. Third place went to Lloyd Tannenbaum in a time of 12.31.38. First woman home was Jenna Rose Gold who came in fourth overall in a time of 13:42:48.
68 swimmers started the race with three failing to finish. But the result that brought most joy to spectators’ face was the successful swim by 11-yr-olds Talia Gokylkdrim and Julia May who crossed the line holding hands to share 60th place with Julia’s 9-yr-old brother Shaun just ahead of them in 59th spot and 11-yr-old Gabrielle Adler in 62nd position. For the May kids, it looks like two chips off the old block…their father is Maccabi swimming identity Brian May and the blocks could well be the starting ones at poolside!
The day proved a triumph for Maccabi organiser and for swimming convenor Anthony Goodridge. Sally Betts, the Mayor of Waverley, the council in which Bondi lies, attended the event and presented medals at the North Bondi Surf Club whose members patrolled the route.
The article on the Open Water Swim was amazing. My son is Marcus Schlesinger, the young man that won the swim. I am so proud of him that he was able to face his fear and swim with his friend, Lucas Ransom in this race. I had asked him not to swim it as I couldn’t bear him going into the ocean after Lucas’ tragic death. Being the son and young man he is, I should have know he would try it. After the race he called me and said “Mom I swam the Open Water Swim” I told him how proud of him I was of him and asked how he did; He won it! I know Lucas was with him! Thank you Australia for making your waters safe for this swim!