Team USA Faces European All-Stars in Mutual of Omaha’s Duel in the Pool Mutual of Omaha’s Duel in the Pool to Air on NBC Dec. 27
Omaha, Neb. – (December 18, 2009) A field of the world’s fastest swimmers will battle for global bragging rights as Team USA takes on European all-stars in the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool. The event, which will be held Dec. 18 and 19, in Manchester, England will be broadcast in the U.S. on NBC Dec. 27.
“Mutual of Omaha is proud to bring the world’s best swimmers together in a head-to-head competition as Team USA takes on Team Europe,” said Mutual of Omaha Senior Vice President John Hildenbiddle. “With its thrilling competition and great coverage on NBC, the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool builds on the excitement and enthusiasm swimming generated worldwide during the 2008 Olympics.”
The bi-annual Duel in the Pool is a made-for-TV event, designed to showcase the sport’s most exciting swimmers in non-Olympic years. Past Duels were held in 2003, 2005 and 2007 and pit all-star teams from the U.S. and Australia against one another. The U.S. is 3-0 in the history of the Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool. This year’s event will take on a new format with Team USA facing a team comprised of the top swimmers from Great Britain, Germany and Italy.
The U.S. all-star team will be comprised of the fastest swimmers selected from four meets in 2009 - the ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships, Word University Games, U.S. Open and FINA World Championships. The team will include up to 18 men and 18 women and will include the following athletes sponsored by Mutual of Omaha: Mark Gangloff, Matt Grevers, Christine Magnuson, Haley McGregory, Aaron Peirsol and Peter Vanderkaay.
The European All-Stars will be comprised of up to 18 men and 18 women from Great Britain, Germany and Italy, with each country sending a team of six men and six women. British Swimming will co-host the meet, along with USA Swimming.
The meet format will be short course meters. World-record swims will earn a $5,000 (U.S. dollars) bonus and $1,000 will be awarded to swimmers for each win at the meet. For more information on the event, including results, visit www.duelinthepool.com.
Mutual of Omaha is a full-service, multi-line organization providing insurance and financial services products for individuals, businesses and groups throughout the United States. The company entered into its sponsorship of USA Swimming in 2002. For more information about the company’s sponsorship of USA Swimming, visit www.mutualofomaha.com/usaswim.
