Great Moves In Open Water Swimming History – Cold Around Atlantic City
Great Moves In Open Water Swimming History – Cold Around Atlantic City
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.The World Open Water Swimming Association offers a series of Great Moves In Open Water Swimming History.
While many great moves in open water swimming history requires speed, strength and stamina by some of the greatest swimmers in history, the competitors of the 1988 Atlantic City Around the Island Swim required collusion and mutual respect.
David Alleva recalls the 1988 race, “The Atlantic City race was called due to unreasonably cold water conditions in the low 50°F’s (near 10°C). Several of us lasted for 1 hour 45 minutes that I recall vividly. Our hands could not open, so just our arms were moving and getting us nowhere in the ocean. But if we made it to the back bay of Absecon Island, which would make the halfway point where the water warmed up to the 70°F’s. We were maybe 3 miles into the race after 1 hour 45 minutes when the Coast Guard ordered all the swimmers out of the water.
But we all insisted that we agree to split the prize money evenly or we would not get out – and the organizers immediately agreed.”
The immediacy of the swimmers’ collective demands and their mutual agreement in the midst of unexpected cold water conditions with tens of thousands of dollars on the line made this a great move in open water swimming history.
Alleva noted that President Donald Trump, who had just dropped in from his yacht The Trump Princess, spoke with him during his post-race interview.
Great Moves In Open Water Swimming History:
* Great Moves In Open Water Swimming History – Ted Erikcson on Lake Michigan
* Great Moves In Open Water Swimming History – Alex Meyer in lac St-Jean
* Great Moves In Open Water Swimming History – Lewis Pugh on Mount Everest
* Great Moves In Open Water Swimming History – Rick Walker in Rome
* Great Moves In Open Water Swimming – Fran Crippen in Marine Stadium
* Great Moves In Open Water Swimming History – Larisa Ilchenko in Beijing
* Great Moves In Open Water Swimming History – Miracle at the Midmar Mile
* Great Moves In Open Water Swimming History – The Unprecedented Olympic Victory
* Great Moves In Open Water Swimming History – Cold Around Atlantic City
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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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