Captain Webb crossed the English Channel in 1875. George Young crossed the Catalina Channel in 1927. Mercedes Gleitze was the first to cross the Strait of Gibraltar in 1928. Barry Devonport first crossed the Cook Strait in 1962.
The world is a very large place. Mountains have been climbed and many run, bike and ski all over the Planet Earth.
But there are many more lakes, rivers, bays, islands and waterways of all types to conquer for open water swimmers and aquatic adventurers.
Become part of history. Be a trailblazer. Set a record.
You can be the first person to cross your own channel. The possibilities of becoming the first one to swim a certain course is nearly endless. Your solo swim – or relay or stage swim – does not have to be a marathon distance. It can be in a local lake or around a peninsula. It can be a island circumnavigation or a river swim downstream – or upstream.
Document it by filming it, accurately measuring it (via GPS), and arranging for an independent observer to certify your swim. Write out it. Photograph it. Memorialize it for history.
Be the first. Be a part of history. Now is your time.
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.