Pan American Masters: A swimming spotlight on Sarasota
Rob Butcher once dreamed of being an Olympic swimmer.
Herald-Tribune staff photo by Mike LangPublished: Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 11:02 p.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 11:02 p.m.
SARASOTA - It's been more than a dozen years since Rob Butcher gave up his dream of being an Olympic swimmer, but his ties to the pool and the sport have never been stronger — or bigger.
As executive director of United States Masters Swimming, a Sarasota-based group preparing to host the Pan-American Masters Championship here in June, Butcher will soon be in the spotlight as much as many Olympians.
And the 40-year-old will be under nearly as much pressure: The championship is expected to draw thousands of swimmers and spectators from around the Western Hemisphere — Mexico, Canada, South America and the Caribbean.
The competition will mark a series of firsts for Southwest Florida, Butcher's organization and the Pan Am meet.
It will be the first time that the biennial championship has been held in the U.S. in its five-event history. It also marks the beginning of what could be a series of international sporting events in the region — and an important test of the community's logistical abilities as area venues try to land the 2017 World Rowing Championships, a major LPGA match and others.
“This isn't just about hosting competitions,” Butcher said. “It's about promoting the sport of swimming for adults, even as just recreation.”
The Pan-Am event — coordinated with help from the Sarasota County YMCA — is expected to fill 4,000 hotel rooms around Southwest Florida and have an economic impact of some $3 million.
The competition is scheduled for June 1-13, mostly at the Sarasota YMCA's Potter Park aquatic center and on Siesta Key Beach. It will be a logistical challenge, requiring an army of volunteers, interpreters, safety officials and event sponsors, too.
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