Dan Projansky finished the 2015 END-WET (57.9 km) in 15 hours 22 minutes, the 2014 END-WET (57.9 km) in 12 hours 2 minutes, the 2013 END-WET (43 km) in 14 hours 30 minutes, and the 2012 END-WET (43 km) in 14 hours 30 minutes.
But 2016 was not to be.
“Unlike previous years, this year the Red River of the North was very shallow and there was hardly a current,” said the banker from Illinois.
He got to the mile 15 mark, but Projansky and seven other swimmers were told that if they kept going, they would not make the finish in Grand Forks until after 10 pm. “For safety reasons we had to bail out. I was butterflying at a real good pace. If I chose freestyle, not finishing would not be an issue. I hate having a DNF next to my name in the final results.
I felt real strong and carried a good form. If the river had easy access, I would of kept going. Safety though is most important. I’ll be back.”
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.