5 Out Of 40 Leaves One Rory Fitzgerald
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Neda el Món reported that only 5 out of 40 participants were able to finish the 22.3 km Illes Formigues – Illes Medes Swim in Spain. But only Rory Fitzgerald, a British ice swimmer, was able to complete the swim sans wetsuit.
Fitzgerald completed the swim in 11 hours 27 minutes. “That was tough; [it was] a whole lot tougher than I expected. I entered the Medes to Formigues Islands swim in the anticipation that it would be a long swim in benign conditions with fair weather and flat, relatively warm water. [But] it is probably the toughest swim I have ever made. Since this event began in 2010, only 30 people have accomplished the swim.”
Fitzgerald was only the sixth bioprene swimmer to complete the swim.
Photo by Angela Harris.
Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association
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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