Nicolas Knap would like to complete one of the swims that Amyot attempted nearly 60 years ago. Amyot once crossed to Île-aux-Lièvres at Rivière-du-Loup, then swam from Baie Saint-Paul to Les Éboulements, and then after dinner with the mayor, crossed to L’Isle-aux-Coudres, and then he tried to return to Baie-Saint-Paul. “I want to relive the adventure of Jacques Amyot on August 15th with the difference that my journey will stop once I have touched the mainland of the island.”
Knap, a former French national team swimmer, will face the same difficulties that Amyot did in the 2.5 km cold, fast-running course between Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive and L’Isle-aux-Coudres. The water temperature will be no higher than 12°C, the river currents will run 10 km per hour, and Knap will navigate around numerous ferries, cruise ships, pleasure boats, and cargo ships.
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.