Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

When American Alex Meyer lines up against local favorite and two-time defending champion Xavier Desharnais in the 62nd annual Traversée internationale du lac St-Jean in Lac Saint-Jean, he will have a non-so-secret advantage.

Paul Asmuth, a 7-time professional marathon swimming champion, 3-time Traversée winner, and a 2-time Olympic coach, will be at his helm, escorting him along the 32 km race in Quebec, Canada.

Coach Asmuth competed in 11 total crossings of Lac St-Jean: six 32 km races (1980-1984 and 2004), two 64 km races (in 1985 and 1989), and three 40 km races (1990, 1991 and 1992). He won the event 3 times in 1980, 1983 and 1989, the last where he set the two-way 64 km record in 17 hours 6 minutes.

Even at the age of 46 in the 2004 Traversée, Asmuth swam an excellent time of 7 hours 41 minutes over the 32 km course.

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