PIER TO PUB CONTENDERS
TOP 5 MEN SAM SHEPPARD
The king of the swim. A seventime winner, Sheppard is the greatest to ever grace the Pier to Pub waters. He had dominated the race since 2010, winning seven of the eight swims to become an immortal. The only race he didn’t win was in 2012 when he chose not to take part.
MACK HORTON
A two-time runner up, Horton bids to score a breakthrough win when he renews his battle with archrival Sheppard. Leading in the final metres of last year’s swim, Olympic gold medallist Horton was reeled in by Sheppard on the last wave and lost the frantic dash up the sand.
GREGORIO PALTRINIERI
Arguably the biggest threat to Sheppard’s record-breaking reign. A training partner of Horton’s, Paltrinieri boasts the credentials to salute in the famous race. The reigning Rio Olympics 1500m gold medallist, the Italian is the current world long course and short course world champion. He also holds the long course European records in the 800m and 1500m freestyle events with times of 7:40.81 and 14:34.04.
KENRICK MONK
Another challenger who has flown under the radar. A twotime Olympian, having competed at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Games, Monk will be around the mark.
MATT GILLING
He will need to make up several seconds, but Strong Warrandyte swimmer Gilling can’t be discounted in the super fish. Winning the 2015-16 Victorian swim series, Gilling finished 21 seconds behind Sheppard in last year’s swim. But he now trains full time in Queensland and will fight for a spot on the podium.
TOP FIVE WOMEN HARRIET BROWN
One step away from Pier to Pub immortality. A six-time winner, Brown can eclipse the record of champion Naantali Marshall with another win today. The defending Nutri-Grain ironwoman champion and current series leader, world ironwoman champion Brown could not be better equipped to create history.
LANI PALLISTER
At just 15 years of age, Sunshine Coast swim sensation Pallister could become the youngest competitor to claim the world’s largest open water swim. A national age champion in the 200m, 400m and 800m, Pallister represented Australia in the junior world championships and has won six gold medals in the Australian surf championships.
KELSEY CUMMINGS
A real smoky for line honours. Cummings, a Californian lifeguard who has hit Australian shores to compete in the Wieland Shield against Victoria this weekend, enters the race in genuine form. She won both the 2.5 and 1km events at Torquay’s Danger 1000 — and she did it without a wetsuit. Cummings is also undefeated in Californian open water swims this summer.
ALEXANDRA BROWN
The younger sister of six-time champion Harriet Brown, Alexandra is another leading contender. Fourth in the swim last year, Alexandra is well known for her feats as a triathlete. The 29-year-old has secured top 10 finishes in prestigious events such as the ITU world triathlon grand final and the world championships in Chicago. Claimed her best finish in the world triathlon grand final in Chicago last September, crossing the line in seventh.
NERICE SMITH
Smith, of Nunawading, enters the race in form. The talented distance swimmer finished second in the 5km event in the state titles recently, giving her a shot of confidence ahead of today’s race. With more than 16 years’ experience in the pool, Smith also boasts multiple top10 finishes in the Pier to Pub.
QUICK FACTS:
Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Italy, Netherlands, Singapore, Syria, United States
Overall swimmers: 1825 females, 3306 males