By SwimSwam Contributors on SwimSwam
SwimSwam welcomes reader submissions about all topics aquatic, and if it’s well-written and well-thought-out, we might just post it under our “Shouts from the Stands” series. We don’t necessarily endorse the content of the Shouts from the Stands posts, and the opinions remain those of their authors. If you have thoughts to share, please send themtoshare@swimswam.com.
This “Shouts from the Stands” submission comes from Eney Jones, a multi-time Masters national champion.
The United States Open Water Swimming Nationals are April 1st-4th in Sarasota, Florida.
How exciting that they are held in the town I grew up in. Sarasota boasts of being home to Siesta Beach, which has been ranked as the #1 beach by TripAdvisor in 2011, 2017, 2020, and 2025. It is consistently recognized for its 99 percent pure quartz, powdery white sand, and shallow, clear water.
Sarasota is also home to Lido Beach, which was developed in the early 1900’s by John Ringling—one of the Ringling brothers—and others, and became a premier coastal destination highlighted by the iconic Lido Beach Casino (1940-1969). Known for its white sand and proximity to St. Armands Circle, it was a hub for entertainment, civil rights “wade in” protests in 1955, and is now a popular recreational, public beach. Other great Sarasota beaches are Turtle Beach and Crescent Beach
Nearby beaches on Anna Maria Island that are also lovely include: Coquina Beach, Bean Point, Bradenton Beach, and Manatee Beach.
But alas, Open Water Nationals are in none of these places; they are to be held in Nathan Benderson Park. Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota was originally created in the 1990s as a borrow pit for shell and dirt excavation to build local roads, including I-75. Then Benderson was transformed into a world–class rowing basin and community park. It was specifically redeveloped to serve as a performance training site for championship rowing regattas. There is no swimming at Benderson Park. Let me repeat that, there is NO SWIMMING in Benderson Park, unless it is a sanctioned event.
The latest sample of the water quality, according to the Sarasota County wateratlas, was on December 2nd, 2025.
Only one location site…. hmmm.
There have been algal blooms and bacterial episodes in Benderson. Maybe it is not tested periodically because there is NO SWIMMING at Benderson, unless it is a sanctioned event. Whereas Siesta Key’s water quality is tested weekly, as it is a recreational swimming place.
Secondly, there are alligators in the 400-acre lake at Nathan Benderson Park. A website for Benderson said the large alligators “generally don’t disturb users.” Umm, “generally”?
Forty alligators have been removed from the lake by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission since 2017.
At the 2017 World Rowing Championships at Benderson, an alligator surfaced during the women’s competition. Max Winitz, the spokesman for the World Championship Rowing Competition, said, “ It’s actually quite funny because most of the European rowers whom I have heard from are intrigued and really want to see an alligator. I’m sure the others don’t want to see an alligator.
Perhaps my fear of alligators stems from when I was 12 years old to a girl named Sharon Holmes. Sharon was 16, swimming at Oscar Scherer State Park in Sarasota, when an 11-foot alligator grabbed her and killed her. Her father tried to free her from the jaws of the alligator, but he could not. She died.
It also could stem from a science class where we looked at what an alligator had ingested. Alligators are opportunistic eaters. They are not picky eaters; they will eat anything.
I have been asked if I am afraid of sharks. I am not. In part due to the education Eugenie Clark gave me at Mote Marine Laboratory on Longboat Key.
Eugenie Clark taught us children to be “fascinated, not fearful of sharks”. Yes, this was during the Jaws decade, the movie that scared everyone. Sharks see well, and we are not their food of choice. Alligators don’t see well and will use a “death roll” to dismember subdue, and tear large prey into manageable, bite-sized chunks.
I would hope the managing bodies of USA Swimming and US Masters Swimming would take some of these concerns into account, but this usually will not happen until after a bad incident.
Take, for example, the death of Fran Crippen in 2010. He was competing (in a sanctioned event) that was 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Some swimmers at the event told me they thought it was hotter than 86 degrees, possibly because the air was in the mid 90’s. After this event, both FINA and USA Swimming put a cap on the high temperature of 31 degrees Celsius, or 87.8 degrees Fahrenheit. They also enhanced medical procedures and safety personnel, but they did this after the tragic event.
Last year, I asked a Masters’ Swimming Executive why Benderson? For spectators, it is hot, there are no trees, there are no concession stands, and no outside entertainment. I implored them to look at the beautiful locations available that would be true open water venues. The response was: Benderson is a venue that is easy to control, it’s easy to tag along to USA Swimming, parking is easier, etc., etc. I was disheartened because open water swimming is exciting when you have the following factors: tides, currents, winds, waves and beauty. Years ago, I saw how Open Water Champion Alex Meyer was mentally doing math to prepare for a race. To access his work, look at this article.
Benderson Park might be easier for the organizers and governing bodies, but it should be the athletes, and the safety of the athletes, that come first. Until then, for me, it is a hard no.
About Eney Jones
Eney Jones has achieved remarkably diverse success as a leading pool, open water, and Ironman triathlon swimmer.
Masters National Champion 100-200-400-500-1500-1650 5k freestyle 2009 Open Water 5k Champion, Perth Australia, May 2008. National Masters Champion 200-400-1500 freestyle Champion, Portland, Oregon, August, 2008. Overall Champion Aumakua 2.4k Maui, Hawaii, September 2008 Waikiki Rough Water Swim 3rd place 2006, second place Overall 2009, 3rd place 2012 European Record Holder and Masters Swimming Champion, 2005. Records included 200, 400, 800, 1500 m freestyle Over twenty-time finalist in U.S. Swimming Nationals, including Olympic Trials 1980 Gold medal NCAA 800 yd freestyle relay 1979, silver Medalist 200 yd freestyle 1979. United States National Team 1979-1980. Professional Triathlete 1983-1991. The first woman out of the water in every Hawaiian Ironman participated (6).Read the full story on SwimSwam: Shouts From The Stands: A Hard No For Me at U.S. Open Water Nationals
Hence then, the article about shouts from the stands a hard no for me at u s open water nationals was published today ( ) and is available on swimswam ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Shouts From The Stands: A Hard No For Me at U.S. Open Water Nationals )
Also on site :