Sharon Beckman Rocks With Radcliffe
Sharon Beckman Rocks With Radcliffe
Illustration courtesy of Mark Steele, Harvard Magazine, September-October 2017.“It was so much fun. I laughed and giggled the whole way,” recalled Boston College Professor Sharon Beckman about her 9 hour 6 minute crossing of the English Channel in August 1982. “[But] the last two miles took forever. I could see the coast of France, I could see the rocks in front of me, but it seemed like I wasn’t getting any closer. I didn’t think I’d ever get there.
It was such a perfect day. I felt good the whole way. I was never tired at all. All in all, I’m really happy. It was a fund swim, so much fun that I’m kind of sad that it’s over.”
Considering the generation, Beckman received great support en route to her Channel success.
Silvergate and Gerner, the Boston law firm where the Harvard graduate was employed at the time, granted her time off to train and travel, and made a contribution to her fund-raising efforts. She also received a US$1000 grant from Radcliffe College to help with her costs.
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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. 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.
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