WOWSA-2011 Archives – World Open Water Swimming Association

WOWSA Performance of the Year Nominee Windermere 12-way Warriors (England) – A Dozen Times Better
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Steven Munatones 11/01/2011 No Comment

Liane Llewellyn, Thomas Noblett, Keith Bartolo, Michelle Lefton, Michelle Sharples and Dee Llewellyn wanted to put a non-stop lake distance swimming record out of reach … and they very may well on their 3-day adventure of endurance, teamwork and patience in the Lake District of England. Their 12-way crossing of Windermere broke the existing record of 118

WOWSA Woman of the Year Nominee Penny Palfrey (Australia) – Marathon Swimmer Extraordinaire
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Steven Munatones 11/01/2011 No Comment

Penny Palfrey swam like few others in history during 2011.

The former world-class pool swimmer took over two decades to raise her three children.

Now with the kids all grown up, the 49-year-old from Queensland is making up for lost time, fast and furious.

She started off the year, swimming a trio of channels in Hawaii.<br

WOWSA Woman of the Year Nominee Elizabeth Fry (USA) – Two Times Makes Double
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Steven Munatones 11/01/2011 No Comment

Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Elizabeth Fry is a 52-year-old financial services consultant who could not just swim things once in 2011.

She first set the double crossing record in the 35-mile Ederle Swim from Manhattan Island to New Jersey – and back – in June.

Finishing in 11 hours 5 minutes, she set the

WOWSA Performance of the Year Nominee A Swim For The Coastlines – Un Nado Por Las Costas (Dominican Republic) – Coastal Cleanup Crowds
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Steven Munatones 11/01/2011 No Comment

Marcos Díaz from the Dominican Republic has traveled the world to marathon swims of all kinds – amateur races, professional races, solo swims and wetsuit swims.

With charisma and talent to connect with people from all walks of life, Marcos is as comfortable in conferences with politicians as he is with surfers on the beach.

But he has

WOWSA Man of the Year Nominee Petar Stoychev (Bulgaria) – World Professional Marathon Swimming Champion
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Steven Munatones 11/01/2011 No Comment

Petar Stoychev

is admittedly slowing down and victories are more difficult to come by as a 34-year-old.

However, 2011 saw Petar extend his dominance over the professional marathon swimming world for the unprecedented 11th

consecutive year.

He started out the year by winning the 57K FINA Open Water Swimming Grand

WOWSA Man of the Year Nominee Salvatore Cimmino (Italy) – Champion of the Disabled
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Steven Munatones 11/01/2011 No Comment

Salvatore Cimmino is swimming in the Seas of the Globe in order to raise awareness about physical disabilities.

After getting his leg amputated at the age of 15, he turned to swimming for therapeutic reasons.

His therapy has now transformed to a passion that drives him around the world.

His Swimming in the Seas of the

WOWSA Performance of the Year Nominee Special Olympics World Summer Games (Greece) – A Global Catalyst of Good
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Steven Munatones 11/01/2011 No Comment

The Special Olympics World Summer Games offered open water swimming for the first time in its history.

The inherent danger, the potential risks and the numerous issues involved in putting individuals with intellectual disabilities in the sea were overcome by a team of committed volunteers in Athens, Greece.

The

1.5K world

WOWSA Woman of the Year Nominee Diana Nyad (USA) – Inspiration and Determination Redux
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Steven Munatones 11/01/2011 No Comment

Diana Nyad, 30 years out of the water, dove back in with an extreme dream – to swim 103 miles between Cuba and Florida.

Twice rebuffed by box jellyfish that left deep wounds over her body and psyche, Diana stayed in the water nearly 29 hours on her first attempt and over 36 hours on her second attempt.

While she never reached

WOWSA Woman of the Year Nominee Pamela Dickson (NZ) – Lady of the Lake
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Steven Munatones 11/01/2011 No Comment

Pamela Dickson is a 56-year-old grandmother of ten who became the oldest person to swim 40.2K across Lake Taupo, the biggest lake in New Zealand, in 13 hours 56 minutes.

The oldest person to swim the Cook Strait dug deep and proved that her chronological age was less important than the rhythm she has developed for the open water despite

WOWSA Performance of the Year Nominee Selina Moreno Pasagali (Spain) – Marathon Swimming Cancer Survivor
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Steven Munatones 11/01/2011 No Comment

Selina Moreno Pasagali is a fighter and has much to live for after recovering from breast cancer.

Shocked with malignant tumors in her breast, Selina took to fighting for her health with all her heart.

Ever positive, Selina struggled back to regain her strength after a difficult bout with chemotherapy.

Her performance was