Liz Fry, A Role Model Extraordinaire
Photo courtesy of April Dominguez. Race founder Kent Nicholas recalls a story about Elizabeth Fry at the recent 4-day 41.7 miles (66.9 km) S.C.A.R. stage swim that not only epitomizes the sense of community that open water swimmers have, but more specifically the kind of person who Fry is.
“Open water swimmers who get it understand that swims do not end at the finish line. Liz epitomizes open water swimming at its finest.”
Nicholas recalls that even after Fry swam double the distance of her fellow competitors on Day One across Saguaro Lake and on Day Two across Canyon Lake, she spent time helping the crew load kayaks for the next day. While everyone was going about their business, Fry kept loading kayaks. Soreness? Fatigue? Hunger? It did not matter, Fry kept on lending a hand – over and over again.
“We had 45 kayaks. Liz [who is a race director herself] knows a swim isn’t finished even after touching the finish. She is someone to admire on and off the water.”
That she is. 36 hours 55 minutes to swim 83.4 miles (123.8 km) and she was still helping volunteers.
Photo shows Liz Fry swimming with her sister Peggy Gaskill escorting for her.
Copyright © 2015 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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