Mayra Santos swim 26.48 kilometers in 8 hours 34 minutes 25 seconds on March 19th in an attempt to swim from Ponta Delgada to Ponta de São Lourenço in a training swim. She is preparing for a circumnavigation swim around Madeira Island. Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago located in the north Atlantic Ocean, west and slightly south of Portugal.
Santos explains, “A strong storm at sea caused waves of 3 meters while a lot of rain fell with strong winds that forced us to abort the crossing. It was no longer safe for those who accompanied me on the boat. Skipper João Sousa, Antonio Vieira, my husband João Duarte, and my 11-year-old son Nayan were escorting me on the Madeira Sea Emotions, my escort vessel.”
This was another unprecedented crossing, as this north coast of Madeira Island is well known because of its strong waves and currents.
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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.
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