Gold Medal Mel, always a supportive friend of the open water swimming community and talented commentator and filmmaker, produced a wonderful film on the RCP Tiburon Mile last year. This week, he produced another fascinating piece of Olympic pool swimmer and world record holder Ryan Lochte.
The joy and passion that come through in Gold Medal Mel‘s productions on swimmers – both in the pool and in the open water – are always greatly appreciated and wonderful to watch.
And the joy and passion in which Ryan himself trains and competes are always refreshing. He reminds us that the enjoyment of our journey – especially for open water swimmers who train so long and so hard and often so alone – is as important as reaching our destination.
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.