The Man With Golden Goggles, Open Water Swimmer Alex Meyer

Alex Meyer, the first American swimming qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics, was selected as USA Swimming’s Breakout Performer of the Year. Surrounded by fellow Olympians from at least the last 9 Olympics, Alex was awarded the honor at the eighth annual USA Swimming Foundation Golden Goggle Awards in Los Angeles, California.

The awards gala celebrated the accomplishments of the America 2011 FINA World Championship Team in Shanghai, China that included Alex, the 25K world champion who courageously declined the opportunity to defend his world title due to the conditions that exceeded FINA’s own self-imposed water temperature guidelines.

It was an honor well-deserved.

In water temperatures that were warmer than the conditions that were present when Fran Crippen died at a FINA 10K race in Dubai, FINA’s Medical Delegate allowed the 25K race to continue despite the protests of coaches and swimmers, including Alex‘s fellow world champions Thomas Lurz of Germany and Linsy Heister of the Netherlands who also turned down the opportunity to earn another world championship title.

His Olympic qualification swim in the 10K and his USA National Championship 10K victory – showing obvious talent in the water – and his courage in refusing to swim in water that exceeded 32°C (89.6°F) – showing principle and leadership – were factors that Alex was known for in 2012.

A breakout year indeed for the Harvard University graduate … an intellectual marathon swimmer with an intense focus on the 2012 London Olympics where a breakout performance in Hyde Park on August 10th 2012 is his long-term goal.

For more details on other award winners, click here.

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source