Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.
Julie Newton started off her swimming career in Southern California and continued it in Reno, Nevada. After she received her masters degree, she found herself working as an expatriate in Tokyo.
Things were going well until she was transferred to Singapore. “I wasn’t ready for the move; things were going so well in Japan.”
But the American made the most of it and quickly settled into her career far away from her native and adopted homes. She made lots of swimming friends – including the Team SeaMonstas of Singapore – even though the water temperatures in the pools and open water were way above her optimal for channel crossings.
Earlier this year in August, she became the first person from Singapore to swim across the Catalina Channel, finishing in 13 hours 35 minutes.
“My teeth were chattering. After I told my crew (mother, Steve Robles and Marc Horowitz), they gave me hot chocolate and I felt better.”
Despite the warm air and water temperatures that she faces daily, Newton will incorporate ice baths into her training for future channel swims.
Copyright © 2008-2017 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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