Some of the most enthusiastic and generous supporters of an open water swimming charity event jumped off boats in Boston this early Friday morning.
From elite athletes like Heather Petri, Brooke Bennett, and Kristy Kowal sporting their Olympic medals to masters swimmers sporting wetsuits, the Swim Across America Boston Harbor Swim kicked off early. The 22-mile marathon swimming relay around the Boston Harbor Islands started at sunrise in downtown Boston and will continue throughout today.
After the first leg, four-time Olympic medalist Petri remarked, “The water is great, not cold at all, just a bit windy.”
For more information about the event and the 80 swimmers who raised over $350,000 for the beneficiaries, visit here with a tracking of their course here.
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.