An Amazing Floridian Churning Fast In The Open Water
Gail Rice has had quite a career in marathon swimming, renowned for her churning 90 strokes per minute pace.Gail, a mother, a marathon runner and a nurse, is one of the few people in the world who has completed a modified version of the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming – the English Channel, the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim and the 24-mile Tampa Bay Marathon Swim.
Gail’s English Channel swim in 1999 (8:12) remains one of the fastest female crossings of all time. Earlier in 1998, she was the first woman to complete the Tampa Bay Marathon Swim, setting a record of 8:34. She was also the first person to swim 22 miles around Sanibel Island in Florida, finishing in 9:27 despite tough currents. To top it off, she also swam 12.5 miles – all butterfly – around Key West where her kayaker confirmed that she never broke stroke. She also swam 21 miles around Miami Beach in 1996, together with Randy Nutt who were the first people to do so.
“She is quite simply amazing,” confirmed Randy.
Copyright © 2010 by Steven Munatones
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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