The Great Big Swim With The Spirit Orcas
The Great Big Swim With The Spirit Orcas
Courtesy of Susan Simmons, British Columbia, Canada.
The Spirit Orcas are a group of six developmentally disabled athletes who challenge themselves by swimming in the open water. Between July 1st and August 16th, Susan Simmons, the Spirit Orcas, and Jasmine Kremer swam over 80 km from Brentwood Bay to Colwood Waterfront Park in British Columbia, Canada in order to raise funds for COVID-19 Relief.
Simmons reported, “Dubbed the The Great Big Swim, this incredible group of athletes braved big waves, strong currents and waters as cool as 9°C – all for the love of their community. I continually in awe of these athletes. They have so many challenges in their day-to-day lives, and then to take on this – wow, just WOW.
The Spirit Orcas include Cheyenne Furlong-Goos, Drew Sabourin, Aly White, Ben Vanlierop, Dixon McGowan, and Maria Sharock.”
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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.