Open Water Is Only The Tip Of An Iceberg
Tom ‘Iceman’ McGann, himself a passionate proponent of winter bathing took a great photograph of the Iceberg Athletic Club in January 1962. Those tough men, members of a club founded in 1918, look remarkably physically fit, full of vitality and ready to hit the waves in any temperature.The Iceman describes the group, “They range in age from 25 to 75. John ‘Icecube’ Sineno who is fourth from left was around 25 at the time.
He lived his whole life in the Coney Island area where he had a 12-year stretch where he went in the ocean every day. But he did not know how to swim at all. Second from left is Ed ‘Chief Running Horse’ Sorocki who was listed as going in the ocean at Coney on New Years Day for 50 years straight. Second from right is Vic Boff who was a great health food enthusiast and salesman, exercise proponent with old-time barbells. The last man on the right is Joe ‘The Great Rollino’ who was known for a while as the strongest man in the world. Joe was run over last year at the age of 104 when he was still bending quarters with his fingers for the neighborhood kids.”
What an incredible group of individuals whose vitality probably had something to do with their cold-water swimming habits.
Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source
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.
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