Unlike other American media who focus primarily on the reportedly deadly and dangerous waters in Copacabana Beach at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Melissa Block of National Public Radio featured American Haley Anderson in her recent article, talking about her sacrifice, skills and strategy.
Block also gets into the physicality of the sport that Anderson faces and the mindset of competitive swimmers.
“I’ve been grabbed by my ankles and pulled back,” said Anderson about ziplining in the sport. “And that takes a lot of effort, you know. You don’t just happen to close your hand around someone’s ankle and pull back. That takes conscious effort. It happens, especially when the referees are not looking.“
Anderson also reveals the worst song to get stuck in her head while swimming in the water for hours.
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.