The Legacy Of Maria Lenk
Photos courtesy of André Antunes of Água Fotografia. Information courtesy of Francismar Siviero.
Open water swimmer Betina Lorscheitter of Grêmio Náutico União received a bronze in the 1500m freestyle with a time of 16:53 at the Campeonato Brasileiro Absoluto – Troféu Maria Lenk 2015.
Maria Lenk holds a special place in the annuals of Brazilian, pool and masters swimming.
After an illustrious career where she set 2 world records, Lenk focused on masters swimming.
Lenk swam 1½ kilometers every day into her 90s until the day of her death when she was training in the Clube de Regatas do Flamengo pool and suffered a cardiac arrest. She was taken to the hospital and died at the age of 92. The day after her death, the Campeonato Brasileiro Absoluto was renamed in her honor and has been held for 55 years.
Copyright © 2015 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.
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