The winner of the 2018 Rottnest Channel Swim is Solomon Wright.
(Story: Rottnest Swim Abandoned for some competitors due to great white shark)
Rottnest Swim Record Broken
20-year-old Solomon Wright from Bicton took out the race in a race record time.
He finished the race at 9.40am, with a time of 3:59:28, beating the record set by Mark Saliba in 2000 of 4:00:15. The Cottesloe Beach to Rottnest race has taken place annually for 62-years.
“I didn’t think I’d do that (break the record),” he told awaiting media at Rotto.
“I’m happy with the win, the record is just the cherry on top. It’s a dream”.
Video: Solomon Wright takes our in a record? (Sharks a motivating factor?)
Great White Shark Forces Abandonment for Some
The race was later abandoned for those swimming just off Rottnest later in the morning.
A 4-meter long great white shark was spotted close to hundreds of competitors at the 12 – 14 km mark of the race.
From our earlier post:
Competitors were being pulled from the water around the 12km mark, after a huge shark was spotted lurking near teams.
“Swimmers being pulled out the water at the 12km mark on the way to Rottnest due to a shark. Shark believed to be 3-4m,” 6PR reporter Lisa Barnes said.
Surf Life Saving WA warned people to get out of the water off Rottnest in a Tweet at 10.30am.
“Cont – shark sighted 12km offshore , shark sighted at co ords of 31 59.750s/115 37.050e 12 KM mark offshore. In the swim pack, Perth Rottnest Swim.”
The Rottnest Channel Swim later said the race was suspended for around 100 swimmers.
Rottnest Swim Boat Nearly Sinks
A support boat nearly sunk half way to Rottnest as competitors looked on. All 5 persons on board – crew and swimmers – were taken to safety on board rescue vessels.
The small boat was seen taking on water in the swells, with Fremantle Sea Rescue eventually towing the boat back to Fremantle, despite the boat capsizing.
Results of race : Rottnest Offical Channel Swim
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