Jan Van Scheijndel Passes And Leaves A Legacy In His Wake
Richard Broer reported with great sorrow that 1968 International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honour Swimmer Jan van Scheijndel of The Netherlands passed away at the age of 73 on March 3rd. “He was truly a great man,” said Dale Petranech, Honorary Secretary of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Richard described Jan, who was the first person for The Netherlands to swim the English Channel in 1969 in 12 hours and 47 minutes, in glowing terms. “In The Netherlands he was known for his good humor and bravura – and for making his bravura come true. He swam a world record with his swim team “Haagse Bluf” (translated as The Hague’s Bluf – or Bluffers) on an English Channel relay in 1969. he was the Lake Windermere International champion in 1968 and was an inspiration to other swimmers as both a trainer and coach. He will be remembered as gifted sportsman and for his humor.”
Back in 1965 he started the New Year’s Dive (Nieuwjaarsduik in Dutch shown above) in The Hague with 7 people. The event now draws over 10,000 participants. An example of his lasting legacy in the open water.
Van Scheijndel can be seen in his English Channel swim beginning at 11:10 in the following Dutch-language TV report:
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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