The history of open water swimming is filled with colorful characters and powerful personalities. The sport of swimming from shore to shore is filled with pioneering men and women who challenge themselves to overcome the vagarities and dynamics of the open water.
These heroes and heroines of the marine world are uniquely talented and relentlessly driven individuals, each of whom puts their own spin and legacy on the sport.
There is one contemporary swimmer who stands out for his uniquely joyful approach to the sport.
Matthew Moseley combines the physical toughness of an endurance athlete with the right-brain creativity of an artist. Dancing In The Water combines the human drama of distance swimming with the joy of music and the beauty of art, leading to a masterpiece that is greater than the sum of its parts.
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.