At the age of 70, there is seemingly no slowing down of Dr. Jane Katz, recipient of a Certificate of Merit from the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.
At the 19th Maccabiah Games, she won 13 medals – including 11 individual victories – after participating in every Maccabiah Games since 1957.
“I hadn’t done this kind of speed for the past half dozen years,” explained Dr. Katz to Renee Ghert-Zand of the Sisterhood.
“There are different reasons why I swam so fast. I think it had to do with the great new pool, and we were wearing those fast suits that can take an entire team to help get on. And, of course, I trained for this event. But I also think it’s about older being better. I’m swimming smarter, pacing myself so I wouldn’t die at the end of my races. There’s wisdom in old age.”
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.