An English Channel swimmer who has also competed at the Winter World Swimming Championships, Ventre changed from cold to warm waters in his latest marathon swim. He started at 6:30 pm on Sunday and finished today at 5 pm, a 22.5-hour battle across the 26-mile (42km) Kaiwi Channel from the island of Molokai to Oahu.
Like Redmond, he missed Sandy Beach, the traditional finish point on the eastern tip of Oahu due to the tides, but continued on around Hanauma Bay and towards Portlock where he climbed ashore at China Walls.
Throughout the long but calms night, Ventre encountered jellyfish and lots of sharks. Undeterred by the Hawaiian marine life, he continued on only to run smack into a building wind that churned up the ocean.
Fortunately, when Ventre arrived at China Walls, the tide was high and he was ablee to scramble up the rock face to become the 24th person to cross the Molokai Channel.
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.