20 Miles In The Channel Like Father, Like Son
Michael Renford will soon set off on his final leg of the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming. His Catalina Channel crossing will be done in tribute to his father’s legacy on Australia’s Father’s Day.
Michael, son of Des who was one of the most popular, renowned and personable marathon swimmers of all time, celebrates his 50th birthday today. According to an interview with the Brisbane Times, when he realized Father’s Day fell on his 50th birthday, he considered it an invitation from Neptune, Poseidon and his dad, the former King of the English Channel®.
“I’m extremely proud to be my father’s son, and I feel fortunate to follow in his arm-strokes. I love keeping his memory alive. It’s one of the reasons I do it. I tie dad’s wedding ring to my cossies to have something that was important to him close to me. It means a lot, because I think of him while I swim. It’s a shame he’s not around to see me do something I had no inclination to do when he was alive, but 12 years after his death, I’ve done a few decent swims, not that I’d ever compare myself to dad.”
Michael can be tracked in real-time here.
Photo by The Daily Telegraph.
Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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