Healthy Baker Begins Olympic Quest in State Harbour Crossing

New Zealand open water swim champion Cara Baker hopes to get her Olympic campaign back on track in this weekend’s State Harbour Crossing in Auckland.

The Queensland-based Baker fainted twice before July’s world championships in China, requiring a medical clearance to compete, and eventually fading to 22nd placing.

With her medical condition now identified, the 21 year old ventures back into open water competition on Sunday for the opening round of the State New Zealand Ocean Swim series.

She will join 1300 participants in the 2.9km swim from Bayswater to the Viaduct, where she will take on a strong field including Taranaki’s Charlotte Webby and the country’s top ranked freestyler, Lauren Boyle.

Baker said her terrifying experience in China was a major concern but it has proven a blessing in disguise.

“It was really scary. I remember saying to Philip Rush (national coach) what is going on. And then fainting. Yes it was a frightening,” Baker said.

“I went to my doctors when I got back and after testing they have found an imbalance in my bowel. So the issue was that I drank too much water and not enough electrolytes. It is good to find that out and now we have been able to change my nutrition.

“This weekend is my first time back in the open water since shanghai so it’s a chance to get the nutrition right.”

Baker said the series forms an important part of her season as she prepares for the national championships in January where the top two kiwis will progress to the final Olympic qualifier in Portugal.

“It’s a great chance to get back into the open water. We spend all the time training in the pool so it’s really important to get as much open water racing as possible.

“It’s good to race the boys as well and see if I can hang on to them.

“Training has gone well. I am keeping on top of things healthwise. It’s going really well, two months out from the New Zealand Championships and this series is important preparation for that.”

Baker also enjoys the unique opportunity to swim across the harbour.

“The Harbour Crossing is one of my favourite swims to be able to swim across the harbour and go alongside the harbour bridge is pretty special.”

The elite men’s race pits top kiwi hope Kane Radford against Australia’s best Trent Grimsey and Australian junior champion Jared Poort as well as other top New Zealand swimmers including Kurt Bassett and Daniel Bell.

There are also many who are overcoming the odds in the State Harbour Crossing including Whenuapai cancer survivor Mark Blakey who was given little chance of surviving after contracting cancer of the bladder.

That was three years ago and Mark, a former runner, has already completed the Auckland marathon and after a challenge from a workmate and his stepdaughter, is taking on the State Harbour Crossing.

At one end of the spectrum is the remarkable 78-year-old Alex Hill who is the oldest participant in the series, and fellow Devonport resident, the talented 14 year old Tessa McNair who is aiming to win her age group after achieving this in the North Head swim last year.

What about Auckland demolition worker Jonathan Smith who is taking up the challenge after turning his life around?

Once 150 kgs, the 30 year old has lost 60 kgs in the last 18 months and is shaping up for his first ocean swim in the Harbour Crossing.

Beachaven’s Bjorn Schuffelen is addicted to ocean swimming after completing the series last year. The State Harbour Crossing is part of his plan to drop 60kgs for his next big mission, which is the solo swim across Lake Taupo.

The North Harbour senior men’s waterpolo team are taking part in support of Natalie Murphy, a 35 year old North Shore mother who is desperately fighting breast cancer.

Jonny Clarke who organised the group effort does not even know Natalie, but heard of her plight and felt compelled to do something practical to raise funds for her expensive life saving treatment.

For more information and to register visit www.oceanswim.co.nz