I Am A Swimmer
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. “I am a swimmer,” answered Keri-Anne Payne when asked if she sees herself as a pool swimmer or an open water swimmer.
If there is anyone in world history who so precisely defines the word, swimmer, it is the incomparable Adolph Kiefer.
He was not only one of the world’s best swimmers of any era, an Olympic champion and world record holder, but he also greatly influenced the world’s of competitive pool swimming and open water swimming in profoundly obvious ways. He developed nylon swimsuits, kickboard and lane lines that transformed the sport from wool to synthetic fabrics, taught tens of thousands of swimming instructors during World War II, constructed public swimming pools, and has been issued 13 patents.
And he continues to swim at the age of 97.
19-year-old Kiefer is shown above winning the 2.25-mile Chicago River Marathon Swim in 1937 in 47 minutes 51 seconds.
Copyright © 2015 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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