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Irvine welcomes Pan Pacific Swim Championships The world-class event hosts top international aquatic talent. By Susan BelknappPublished: August, 2010

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It has been a hot summer for Irvine Novaquatics and the excitement continues to build when the 2010 Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Championships make a worldwide splash starting Wednesday, August 18 and will run through Saturday, August 21. Internationally renowned swimmers such as Michael Phelps and Irvine's own Jason Lezak and Aaron Piersol will be competing. The 2010 Speedo Junior National Championships took place at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine from August 9 to 13. The event served as trials for the 2010 Junior Pan Pacific Championships to be held in Maui, Hawaii later this month. Some of the fastest young swimmers helped make a name for themselves in hopes of one day earning a spot on the U.S. National Team. At the 2010 Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Swimming Championship this week, teams from Australia, Canada, Japan, USA and 20 other countries will compete for gold. Established in the mid 1980s, the association is made up of the four founding swimming federations – Swimming Australia, Swimming Canada, the Japan Amateur Swimming Federations and USA Swimming. These charter nations developed the concept of a biennial swimming competition to provide their national teams with first class international competition between the two major international swimming competitions – the Olympic Games and the FINA World Championships.   The ConocoPhillips United States Nationals and the Pan Pacific Championships will be televised by NBC, the Olympic Network. It is the first time that Pan Pacific Championships will be held in the United States in over a decade. Athletes and visitors from around the globe are expected to attend. “Over the 16 days of competition we anticipate that thousands of spectators will turn out to witness the incredible feats of these 3,000 athletes,” says Dave Salo, general manager of Irvine Novaquatics. “And with more than 500 volunteers from our Novaquatics community we will do everything possible ensure that these spectacular events run smoothly.” Top swimmers from across the United States will be participating, with famous names such as Ryan Lochte, Michael Phelps, Katie Hoff and new American talent will all be battling it out for a spot on the international stage. Irvine Novaquatics, Inc., is a nonprofit swim school and competitive aquatics organization that offers a professional and comprehensive swimming environment for swimmers of all ages and skill levels. Irvine Novaquatics has been the training ground for Olympians and World Champions including Jason Lezak, Aaron Piersol, Amanda Beard, Lenny Krayzelburg, and Stacianna Stitts to name just a few.   2010 represents the organization’s 15th consecutive year hosting the Speedo Grand Challenge and the team’s inaugural year as host to the Special Olympics of Southern California. novaquatics.com.

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