Kelley Prebil has been swimming all her life. She loves the water.
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, she is a member the Oak Streakers of Laguna Beach, the South End Rowing Club and the Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association while competing for the San Mateo Masters. Since she picked up open water swimming seriously in 2012, she has been training up and down the California coast from Laguna Beach in Southern California to Aquatic Park in San Francisco.
But, like many open water swimmers, she occasionally has “the look” – a focused gaze out towards the horizon when they carefully assess the dynamic water conditions and their intended course. It is a seriously-minded look that considers the direction of the currents and tides, the strength of the winds, the size and timing of the waves, the location of buoys and marine vessels, and the possible marine life that may be lurking under the surface of the water.
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.