Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

Marcos Díaz, the 2010 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year and Honour Swimmer in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, completed his fourth swim of the Swim Across the Continents in the Bering Strait while swimming back in time.

That is, he started on one day and finished a day earlier.

Under the watchful eye of pilot George Ackinga of Little Diomede Island and his crew of Oliver Olivo and Cesar Augusto Garcia, Díaz entered the 35°F water with a wetsuit and a steely determination. Starting on August 27th from Big Diomede Island in Russia, Díaz finished in 1 hour 5 minutes later on August 26th (Alaska time).

Due to the international date line, this is one of the few times in open water swimming history where a swimmer started a challenge and finished a day behind. Díaz started on the east side of Big Diomede and finished on the west side of Little Diomede, fighting against waves and strong cross currents. Under cloudy skies and cold light winds, his pilot and crew were worried about a walrus swimming close to the escort boat, but Marcos was in good spirits and the walrus eventually swim off.

Not only did Díaz complete what he set out to do in collaboration with the United Nations as part of the Millenium Development Goals, but he also swam back in time and with a walrus. Díaz will be honored at the 2011 Global Open Water Swimming Conference in New York City as part of the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim weekend and the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame induction ceremony for the Class of 2010/2011.

Copyright © 2011 by World Open Water Swimming Association