HASSAN BEACH, Tunisia. The 2011 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year Nejib Belhedi swims day after day along the coast of his native Tunisia, continuing to build awareness of open water swimming.
Over the past several months, Nejib has gradually and relentlessly picked up momentum, generated media attention, and recruited swimming partners along the way as he swims his way to the eastern border of Tunisia.
For any open water swimmer who wishes to join with Nejib, he has arranged free accommodations in a well-equipped guest housing near the Mediterranean Sea in Mahdia, owned by Professor Salem Brahim. “I accompanied Nejib to Hassan Beach. We gave a new name to a building in his honor, The Peach Guest Home, as a tribute to his swim of peace across Tunisia. It is only a few meters from the Mediterranean in Mahdia.” “I encourage swimmers to take part with me in the Swim of Peace,” said Nejib fresh from his latest swim in Hassen Beach that was covered by Al Kass TV from Qatar. “The swimmers will also be escorted by local pilots as part of our local spirit of ouma.
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.