AMERICAN SAMOA. Bruckner Chase is called Toa a le Tai for good reason by the Samoan people. Toa a le Tai means Hero of the Sea and the National Marine Sanctuaries commemorated Bruckner’s energy, vision and success in creating the first comprehensive ocean swimming curriculum for high school students. The National Marine Sanctuaries’ colorful cartoon video of the Toa a le Tai is fun, unique and spot on (see below).
“Thank you to the National Marine Sanctuaries for giving me the inspiration to keep swimming and keep reaching to positively impact how we feel, think and act towards the oceans,” said Bruckner who was humbled by his cartoon character, but energized by the support that has been given him by his colleagues at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Under the auspices of the non-profit Bruckner Chase Ocean Positive, Bruckner is jetting off from New Jersey to American Samoa to “positively impact how we feel, think and act towards our oceans.”
With the support of his ocean conservation grant from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, he will soon kick-off the ocean swimming and science youth development programs for the government of American Samoa. “As much as I want to help people become stronger open water swimmers, my primary goal is to get them to understand and embrace a personal connection to the marine environment and encourage a sense of conservation stewardship as well. The Samoa model has clinics that include modules for Ocean Sciences/Ocean Swimming and Marine Safety.”
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.