The annual Samoa Swim Series (SSS) that takes place on our sister island of Samoa, will once again host three days of open water swimming competition and for the first time, American Samoa will participate.  Swims consist of 3.8km swim on day one, 2-4km swim on day two and on day three, there will be two 3.5km swims.

 Participants will include swimmers from Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, Hawai’i, US Mainland and now for the very first time, American Samoa. Swimmers of the American Samoa Aquatics Agency (ASAA) are training hard, preparing themselves physically and mentally for the 2014 SSS that will take place from July 31 to August 2 in Samoa.

The ASAA had their annual Swim Across the Bay in January this year, and are now preparing themselves for their next big event. The swimmers that participated in the Swim Across the Bay, which included high schoolers and ASAA instructors, will most likely be the same people to take part in the 2014 SSS, according to head of the ASAA, Zero Iaulualo.

“Right now the ASAA is gearing up for the big competition swim in Samoa at the end of July and the beginning of August,” said Iaulualo.“

“I don't want to name any names at this time, until I get a full commitment from the young swimmers. Hopefully it will be the same ones that swam in the Swim Across the Bay. But one thing is for sure, the ASAA will definitely be competing in this one,” he said.

He also revealed that there is talk about about a Mini Iron-man Triathlon that might soon be taking place right here in the territory. “I don't  want to say too much about the Mini Iron-Man Triathlon, who will it will be done by or the dates that it might be. But whenever it is, the ASAA will surely be involved in it. If it is before the Samoa Swim Series, it will help get us ready for Samoa, but if its after, that's ok as well,” he said.

He said that if anyone wants to come and train with the ASAA they are more than welcome to 'come on down'.

"We will be at Utulei Beach on Monday, Wednesday and Friday starting at 1:00 p.m. But remember, we are training for the SSS, not  training people to swim, at least not right now. You have to already know how to swim if you wish to train with us in the water. We will also be doing other types of training that will be out of the water, such as running and light weightlifting,” he said.

Just before the 2014 SSS, there will be a Pacific Open Water Challenge where swimmers will compete in a 10km swim on one day and 5km the very next day.

There will also be a Half Iron-Man Triathlon just before the SSS. Samoa News asked Iaulualo if anyone from the ASAA will be competing in these other events. “Right now we are getting ready for the 3.8, 4 and 3.5km swims, but if we feel we have an athlete in our group that is ready by that time to compete in the Pacific Open Water Challenge or the Half Iron-Man Triathlon, we will enter their name,” he stated.

“This Samoa Swim Series is a pretty big event in Samoa, with swimmers and athletes from all different places. I know we will represent American Samoa very well,” said Iaulualo.