David Swift Returns To His Aquatic Roots
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. David Swift was a competitive swimmer in his youth, but then laid off swimming for four decades. “For 40 years, I got out of swimming. I was living life, raising a family and working,” he explains.
But then he hurt his knee and could not run anymore. The 60-year-old went back to his aquatic roots. “I started swimming again and got hooked. Open water swimming gives me the motivation to stay in shape.”
Swift’s words are echoed across the global open water swimming community where hundreds of thousands of former competitive pool swimmers find enjoyment in the tranquility and challenge of open water swimming, either for fitness or competition. “We have a lot of people doing our swims throughout the year,” says Pedro Ordenes of Water World Swim. “Many of them are newcomers, but many of them are also former competitive swimmers, whether it is in San Francisco Bay, the Galápagos Islands or Miami.”
Swift completed his sixth Alcatraz swim today at the 2-mile Alcatraz Classic for the Fastest from Alcatraz Island to the Alcatraz to St. Francis Yacht Club, finishing in 39:39.
For the overall race results, visit here.
Copyright © 2015 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. 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.
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