The Swim Miami Presented by Nike is one of the highlights of the open water swimming circuit along the East Coast and Florida. The multi-race event (800m, 1 mile, 5 km and 10 km) draws swimmers from all walks of life, from newcomers to the sport of triathlons and open water swimming to Olympians.

Among the several hundred swimmers lining the banks of Watson Island in Biscayne Bay with downtown Miami in the distance, few are as enthusiastic about life and as active as competitors as the inspirational hero of Fort Lauderdale, Hector Picard, a double arm amputee who will be swimming the 5 km race.

Picard just does not slow down. Besides the Swim Miami 5 km, he competes from January through November in marathons (IMG Miami Marathon and Fort Lauderdale Marathon), 19 triathlons (Club Med TRI, 2575 Triathlon, Nautica South Beach Triathlon, Easter Egg Triathlon, St. Anthony’s Triathlon, Club Med TRI Race 2, TRI Miami, Key Biscayne International TRI, Independence Day TRI, Ironman Rhode Island 70.3, Ironman United States Championship, Key Biscayne International TRI, Key Biscayne TRI 3, Key Biscayne International TRI, Club Med TRI race 3, Ironman World Championship, Triathlon Championship, Club Med TRI race 4 and Miami Man), a half marathon (Martinsville Half Marathon) as well as his 1,280-mile I WILL Bike Journey to NYC that raises funds and awareness for the I WILL Foundation.

His story and his life are appropriately described up in his website: Don’t Stop Living. He explains, as only he can, below:



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