Feeling Small And Helpless In The Open Water
Massimo Voltolina is an Italian endurance athlete who has completed triathlons, the English Channel and other long-distance events. He explains why marathon swimming is enticing to him, “It’s a way to get into deep contact with nature. When I am walking through the silence of the mountains I experience a special peace, when I swim in the ocean I feel small and helpless in the grip of an immensely powerful and unknown force and yet I am wholly at ease because there is this intimate contact with the sea.” Judging from videos from his unprecedented Progetto Adriatico, a 85K swim from Italy to Albania on September 4-5th, it is easy to imagine how a swimmer could feel small and helpless in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. The swim took him 23 hours and 44 minutes.
Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source
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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