“Daniel started his swim at 5:50 pm on Papohako Beach on Molokai Island and finished at 11:53 am on Alan Davis Beach on Oahu. There were no currents – except at the very end. The wind was fairly low but the seas were still large and lumpy.
While the Seakeeper made the [boat] ride very comfortable for crew and feeder, Daniel got stung and seasick and was encouraged along by feeder Dan Simonelli to continue. Like a machine, he pushed through and finished in 18 hours 3 minutes where he was met on shore by legendary swimmer Bill Goding. Many thanks to his great crew of Rylie Hager, Sean Wolf, and Shelley Oates-Wilding.“
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.
