George Young Voted In Internat’l Swimming Hall Of Fame
17-year-old George Young stroked into the annals of open water swimming history when he became the solo finisher of the 1927 Wrigley Ocean Marathon Swim, a 20.2-mile open water swimming competition across the Catalina Channel in 15 hours 44 minutes, winning the US$25,000 first prize offered by William Wrigley, Jr.The Canadian’s accomplishments were recognized formally by the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) as an Honor Open Water Pioneer Swimmer.
Young, a Toronto native who had won the Toronto Across the Bay swim numerous times, continued to swim after his Catalina Channel victory was voted as an Associate for Life in the International Professional Swimmers Association in New York City in 1927.
Young joined the pantheon of aquatic luminaries along with the following other open water swimmers:
* Sandra Bucha (U.S.A.) – Honor Open Water Swimmer
* Jon Erikson (U.S.A.) – Honor Open Water Swimmer
* Claudio Plit (Argentina) – Honor Open Water Swimmer
* Judith van Berkel-de Njis (Netherlands) – Honor Open Water Swimmer
* Mercedes Gleitze (Great Britain) – Honor Open Water Pioneer Swimmer
* David Yudovin (U.S.A.) – Honor Open Water Swimmer
* Dale Petranech (U.S.A.) – Honor Open Water Contributor
Photo shows George Young with William Wrigley, Jr. after the 1927 Wrigley Ocean Marathon Swim. Photo courtesy of Catalina Channel swimmer Chris Geer of Channel Twenty-one.
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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