On August 5th and 6th, Massimiliano Simone, an open water swimmer of Forlì from northern Italy, will attempt to cross the Adriatic Sea from Poreč in Croatia to Chioggia in Italy, a total distance of 110 km.
The 51-year-old who has limited mobility due to two hinged prostheses may wear a wetsuit depending on the conditions, but he expects the swim will take 36 hours along with his escort boat pilots, kayakers, support crew, and official observers.
Simone says his motivation to attempt the 110 km swim became a reality in 2016 when he did a series of 14 swims totaling 200 km and became interested in doing something even more challenging.
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.