Alex Meyer Guided By A Hero Of The Past
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. When American Alex Meyer lines up against local favorite and two-time defending champion Xavier Desharnais in the 62nd annual Traversée internationale du lac St-Jean in Lac Saint-Jean, he will have a non-so-secret advantage.
Paul Asmuth, a 7-time professional marathon swimming champion, 3-time Traversée winner, and a 2-time Olympic coach, will be at his helm, escorting him along the 32 km race in Quebec, Canada.
Coach Asmuth competed in 11 total crossings of Lac St-Jean: six 32 km races (1980-1984 and 2004), two 64 km races (in 1985 and 1989), and three 40 km races (1990, 1991 and 1992). He won the event 3 times in 1980, 1983 and 1989, the last where he set the two-way 64 km record in 17 hours 6 minutes.
Even at the age of 46 in the 2004 Traversée, Asmuth swam an excellent time of 7 hours 41 minutes over the 32 km course.
Copyright © 2016 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.
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