It Is Not A Myth In Open Water Swimming
Elaine Kornbau, who has achieved the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, commented on the article Are Women Better Than Men In The Open Water? “[That was an] interesting analysis. I have long suspected that ladies had an advantage in the really long, colder swims. Through personal experience, I have found myself gaining on much faster and fitter men as we’ve gotten into the latter miles of 20+ mile open water swims.
Personally, I think some of [the advantages are] physiology and some is mental orientation. We are geared for intense pain (childbirth) and on average, have the higher body fat ratios that better insulate in colder water.
Recently, the Myth Busters program on the Discovery Channel ran a test to see whether men or women have a higher tolerance for pain. The means they used to measure this? Cold water. And women were the far and away winners.
In a different medium, the results may not have been as clear, but I think the ladies have a particular advantage when it comes to the long, cold swims. That’s not to say that the men we compete against are weak: It just seems to me that we ladies are more naturally predisposed to take on these kinds of challenges and I think many (not all – there is a lot of room for individual variation) men might have a tougher time coping with the cold water, which makes their achievements all the more impressive.”
Copyright © 2011 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. 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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