Hayley Lewis takes on the Coffs Coast Ocean Swim

Hayley Lewis at Yamba's Convent to Main Beach Ocean Swim.

The Coffs Coast Advocate

THREE-time Olympian Hayley Lewis has thrown her hat in the ring to participate in this year's Coffs Coast Ocean Swim.

Having won the 700 metre race and finishing second in the 2000 metre swim at Yamba a month ago, Lewis has the form behind her to make her one of the pre-race favourites for the swim events to be held at the Jetty on Sunday, March 1.

Lewis will be remembered as the 15-year-old who became a national treasure after winning four gold medals at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland.

Her career included three Olympics at Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney with a silver medal in her pet event, the 800 metre freestyle her best result.

Since retiring from competitive swimming Hayley has been a keen Open Water swimmer participating in numerous events, particularly the Ocean Swim at Yamba where she often holidays with her family.

The Coffs Coast Ocean Swim is part of a summer series that includes Yamba and South West Rocks and Lewis will be in Coffs Harbour just in time to celebrate her 35th birthday.

The Coffs Coast Ocean swim is a fun, charity fundraising event which offers participants a choice of three distances which caters for both the novice and the more competitive with a 250 metre, 600 metre and two kilometre swim.

There's never any shortage of swimmers among the hundreds of competitors each year who tackle all three events.

Entries forms and further details can be obtained on the website at www.coffsoceanswims.com or by contacting Neil Power on 0418 781 480.