Roman Urbina Crespo of La Ruta de Los Conquistadores set a world marathon swimming record 19 years ago in Costa Rica across the Gulf of Nicoya. “I raised awareness for the protection of the leatherback turtle and the creation of a new national park the Baulas Marinas National Park. It was a major splash and many people were moved by the swim and the reason behind it.”
The distance was 25 km which Roman did in a fast 4 hours 24 minutes. “I planned the swim so the outgoing tide helped me.”
But his unprecedented swim – like most other marathon swims around the world – spurred many others to also take up the challenge. “Since then more than 60 people have done the crossing with the current record of 3 hours by Franking Chavarria when he benefited from major tidal flows under perfectly glassy conditions.”
True to Roman’s goal, a park was created and his dream on two fronts was realized. “I like to think I put a few grains of sand towards this. The crossing of the gulf gave me more credibility as an athlete. I also used this as a springboard to start La Ruta de Los Conquistadores.”
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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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