Experiencing Neoteny In The Open Water
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. The word neoteny is borrowed from the German word Neotenie, the latter constructed from the Greek νέος (neos meaning ‘young’) and τείνειν (teínein meaning ‘to extend’).
When adults retain traits of the young, the scientific term for this state is neoteny.
When we see adults enjoying competition, exploring swims that have never been done before, laughing with their friends after a training swim, and talking about the challenges of the cold or waves, the ambience is youthful. The swimmers look like they are extending their youth and are demonstrating an euphoric state of neoteny.
Photos of swimmers in San Francisco Bay above are by 1996 Olympic swimmer Dan Kutler who is launching a Kickstarter campaign to shoot a 6-month global campaign of open water swimmers around the world. For additional photos of his DK Studio, visit the Heroines of the Bay, Part 1 photos here, . Heroines of the Bay, Part 2 photos are here. Heroes of the Bay, Part 1 photos are here.
Copyright © 2014 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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