Solid As A Rock – The Mexican American Unity Team
Two-time Olympic swimmer Patricia Kohlmann was the anchor swimmer for the Mexican American Unity Swim, a 108 nautical mile (200K) non-stop relay swim in Lake Powell that sits on the border of the states of Arizona and Utah near the north rim of the Grand Canyon.The 6-person team finished in 55 hours 20 minutes and 25 seconds.
Lake Powell, the site of future 25K, 50K, 100K and 200K solo and relay competitions, was ideal in October for a record-setting effort by Patricia and her teammates Vito Bialla, Matthew Davie, Phil Cutti, Nora Toledano and Edna Llorens. Calm weather conditions and warm water (24-25°C or 75-76°F) welcomed the swimmers most of the way on their three-day journey to the record books.
The swimmers, of course, swam through the darkness of the night:
Copyright © 2010 by World Open Water Swimming Association
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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