As soon as the open water swimmers, divers and water polo players started to arrive in Shanghai from airports around the world, the gracious Chinese hosts whisked the surprised aquatic athletes from their arrival gate right through passport control and onto waiting buses.

The athletes were certainly treated like the VIPs. American Christine Jennings described the treatment, “The local organizers shuffled us right through from the gate. We went right through passport control and the Customs line. The bus was there and took us to our nice hotel within the hour.”

The open water swimmers from around the world are arriving in Jinshan Beach and started to practice in the world championship venue. They have described the water in many different ways. “We swam tonight when it was dark and got attacked by sea lice. It was windy and choppy, and probably around 84°F (28.8°C). At night, it was dark and murky and a bit scary because we got in when the full moon was out,” said Christine.

Like many open water swimmers everywhere, the world’s fastest simply could not wait to get in the water after a long air flight. Especially after the local officials are treating them like VIPs at their beach-side hotel.

Copyright © 2011 by World Open Water Swimming Association