Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

Roger Finch completed a crossing of the Catalina Channel yesterday to become the first South African to successfully join the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming.

Finch swam across the Catalina Channel in 9 hours 45 minutes to add to his marathon swimming resume that includes a crossing of the English Channel, Rottnest Channel Swim, Cadiz Freedom Swim, Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, 11 Robben Island – Blouberg crossings and 1 double crossing, five 3 Anchor Bay crossings.

It is quite an accomplishment as many of these swims were done after he reached the age of 50 as a member of the Half Century Club.

Members of the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming include:

1. Allison Streeter (UK)
2. Taranath Narayan Shenoy (India)
3. Rick Barthels (USA)
4. Bob West (USA)
5. Peter Urrea (USA)
6. Carol Sing (USA)
7. Antonio Argüelles (Mexico) (twice, in 1999 and 2009)
8. Nick Olmos-Lau (Mexico)
9. T. Scott Coleman (USA)
10. Rebecca Jackman (USA)
11. Kevin Murphy (UK)
12. Kathleen Wilson (USA)
13. Forrest Nelson (USA)
14. Andrew Hewitt (USA)
15. David Blanke (USA)
16. Elizabeth Fry (USA)
17. Marcia Cleveland (USA)
18. Bill Hoehn (USA)
19. Sally Minty-Gravett (Jersey Island, UK)
20. James Pittar (Australia)
21. Scott Richards (USA)
22. Andrew ‘Alan’ Voisard (USA)
23. Tina Neil (USA)
24. Rendy Lynn Opdycke (USA)
25. Michelle Davidson (USA)
26. Michelle Macy (USA)
27. Tom Hecker (USA)
28. Erica Moffett (USA)
29. Nancy Steadman-Martin (USA)
30. Michael Miller (USA)
31. Nick Adams (UK)
32. Elaine Kornbau Howley (USA)
33. Stephen Autry (USA)
34. Jeffrey Cleveland (USA)
35. Sakura Hingley (UK)
36. Samantha Simon (USA)
37. Jim Barber (USA)
38. Craig Lenning (USA)
39. Mallory Mead (USA)
40. Dave Barra (USA)
41. Penny Palfrey (Australia)
42. Dan Richards (USA)
43. Tobey Saracino (USA)
44. Yesenia Cabrera (Guatemala)
45. Michael Renford (Australia)
46. Mo Siegel (USA)
47. Anthony Zamora (USA)
48. Brad McVetta (USA)
49. Jaime Caballero (Spain)
50. William Lee (Bahamas)
51. James Fitzpatrick (USA)
52. Darren Miller (USA)
53. Miquel Suñer Comalat (Spain)
54. Eddie Irwin (Ireland)
55. Selina Moreno Pasagali (Spain)
56. Katie Benoit (USA/Germany)
57. Hendrik Meerman (USA)
58. Sarah Thomas (USA)
59. Dan Boyle (USA)
60. Barbara Held (USA)
61. Mariel Hawley (Mexico)
62. Dave Smith (USA)
63. Cindy Walsh (USA)
64. Jaimie Monahan (USA)
64. Jaimie Monahan (USA)
65. Ned Denison (Ireland)
66. Gabor Molnar (Hungary)
67. Roger Finch (South Africa)

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