Mariia Yrjö-Koskinen and Ned Denison both gave presentations at the 2014 Global Open Water Swimming Conference on the Isle of Bute in Scotland.
Yrjö-Koskinen gave a presentation on the International Winter Swimming Championships in Tyumen, Russia while Denison gave an educational lecture on how one can get and be inspired to organize and participate in solo swims and organized open water swimming events around the world.
But the remarkable ambiance of the conference was truly created during the friendly conversations over dinner, one-on-one discussions between swimmers, and talks among participants who have never met before.
Photo of Mariia Yrjö-Koskinen and Ned Denison at the International Swimming Hall of Fame and International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame induction ceremonies by Ram Barkai.
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.