<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>&nbsp;<strong>By Mike McCombs&nbsp;</strong></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Given her parents, it’s not shocking that Skylar Bruner took to the water. Swimming is in her blood.&nbsp;</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Both parents – Carlton and Heather Bruner – swam competitively. Carlton Bruner, swam for the United States in the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta.&nbsp;</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>But Skylar Bruner has clearly taken to swimming in the open water.&nbsp;</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Two years ago at 14 years old, she won the women’s title at the 3.2- mile Beaufort River Swim, finishing 8 seconds behind her then 16-year-old brother for the overall championship.&nbsp;</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Last year in a COVID-19-delayed race, she took the overall crown by 1:20 over the runner-up.&nbsp;</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“It might be safe to say she has the Olympic genes,” Beaufort-Jasper YMCA Healthy Living Program Director and Beaufort River Swim organizer Denice Fanning said after last year’s race.&nbsp;</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>This year, the 16-year-old Hilton Head Island High School swimmer is back to defend her title in the 15th annual Beaufort River Swim at 7:15 a.m. Saturday.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“Obviously, not being in a pool, (the Beaufort River Swim) is really different. It’s one of the reasons I like it,” Bruner said. “It’s more about the way you swim the race. You can be fast, but it’s the smartest race that wins.”</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Bruner explained that spotting the buoys, taking the shortest route and knowing where everyone is around you make the open water much different than a pool.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“Wildlife and waves can all be factors, as well,” Bruner said.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Bruner swims the 500- and 200-yard freestyle events, as well as relays for the Seahawks. In the fall, as a sophomore, she finished second and fourth in those events, respectively, in the Class 3A state championships.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“My best events in the pool are the longer events,” said Bruner, who also swims competitively for the Hilton Head Aquatics.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":50580,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} -->
<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-large"><a href="https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Screen-Shot-2021-06-09-at-2.18.34-PM.png"><img src="https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Screen-Shot-2021-06-09-at-2.18.34-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-50580"/></a></figure></div>
<!-- /wp:image -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Bruner said it was actually her parents’ success that inspired her to take to the open water.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“Growing up, I watched my parents swim the race and when they won, they would give us their trophies,” Bruner said. “I wanted a trophy of my own.”</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Believe it or not, this is just Bruner’s third Beaufort River Swim, but she has done other open water swims, including a 10K once where “a lot of jelly fish” made for an interesting race.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Once again, Bruner’ high school team is sending several swimmers to compete in this year’s race.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“I’ll have a lot of teammates there, and some of them are pretty fast,” Bruner said. “I’d say anything can happen this weekend. I’m pretty excited.”</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The Beaufort River Swim is one of the key fundraisers for the Y’s Learn To Swim program. Bruner said swimming has been big in her life.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“For young people who want to learn to swim, it just opens up another avenue,” Bruner said. “You are exposed to people and you meet new people.”</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Bruner said swimming is an aimportant skill for fun, safety, and to be athletic and stay in shape.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>“I’d say swimming is all around a good skill to have.”<br></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><em>Mike McCombs is the editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.</em></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><em>Above:</em> <em>Skylar Bruner, 15 was the first female and overall winner of the 3.2 mile swimming portion of the 14th Annual Beaufort River Swim in 2020. Her time was 50:39.8. Photo by Bob Sofaly. </em></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->