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Key Bank Swim Classic in Ann Arbor kicks off Cadillac Challenge Swim Series

May 25, 2000

Courtesy: USA Swimming
COLORADO SPRINGS-Amy Van Dyken will return to the competition pool for the first time in almost six months as the Key Bank Swim Classic, May 26-28 in Ann Arbor, Mich., kicks off this summer's five-meet Cadillac Challenge Swim Series. The Series continues in Charlotte, N.C. (June 15-18), Santa Clara, Calif. (June 22-25), Los Angeles, Calif. (July 13-16) and Long Island, N.Y. (July 14-16).

Van Dyken has had to miss several competitions in the last two years due to a shoulder injury suffered in the spring of 1998 that has required several surgeries. At last summer's Nationals, Van Dyken won the 50m free and was second in the 100m free, despite the injury, but declined selection to the 1999 Pan Pacific Championships team to continue rehabilitation. She competed in the 1999 U.S. Open, finishing fifth in the 50m free. Van Dyken originally thought she would only try to make the 2000 Olympic Team in the 50m free, but with her shoulder recovering better than she first expected, she has stated she will try to make the team in the 100m free as well.

Joining Van Dyken in Ann Arbor will be 1996 Olympic teammates Cristina Teuscher and Tom Malchow, as well as 1992 Olympians Lea Maurer, Anita Nall and Ashley Tappin and 1999 Pan Pacific team members BJ Bedford, Richelle Fox, Kristy Kowal, Erica Rose, Jenna Street, Bobby Brewer, Bryan Jones, Klete Keller, Jason Lezak, Michael Norment, Chris Thompson, Neil Walker and Tom Wilkens. As if that weren't enough stars, several Pan American and World University Games medalists from last summer will also be in attendance, guaranteeing fans the chance to see several swimmers who will make the 2000 Olympic team. A list of top swimmers expected to be at this meet is included in this release. To check out expected attendance for the remaining four meets, visit www.usa-swimming.org/meets/2000/cadillac.htm.

Goodyear Aquatred Challenge

Goodyear, as part of its strategic partnership with USA Swimming, will debut the Goodyear Aquatred Challenge tomorrow (May 25) in Ann Arbor. The event is a national competition to determine America's top inner tube racer, while raising funds to support the U.S. Swim Team. The Goodyear Aquatred Challenge will be held at all five Cadillac meets as well as at the Olympic Trials. Regional winners will receive a trip to the Trials and a set of the new Goodyear Aqutred 3 tires, while the grand winner will be awarded a trip to Sydney.

"Anyone who has ever splashed around in his or her backyard pool now has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the U.S. team in Sydney this summer," said Jenny Thompson, five-time Olympic gold medalist.

Neil Walker, who won five gold medals and broke five world records at the 2000 FINA Short Course World Championships, will be the celebrity host of the event at the Ann Arbor meet.

"With such great prizes on the line, the competition will get pretty fierce so folks should know going in that we're taking this seriously, sort of," said Walker.

"Grounds for disqualification include draining air from a competitor's tube, splash blinding, tube interference, tube streamlining devices, swimsuit stripping or the use of performance-enhancing substances such as pina coladas," said World champion Lenny Krayzelburg, who along with Thompson and Walker have signed individual sponsorship deals with Goodyear.