Colin Hill is a man who lives on the edge, constantly pushing himself where very few have ventured.
In a recent television filming of extreme sports high in the Austrian Alps, Hill faced danger swimming in extremely low temperatures alone in a lake without the benefit of escorts. On the face of it, danger lurked the moment he walked in the lake and headed to the distant shore.
But Hill, like many of his extreme swimming colleagues throughout Great Britain, is very well-prepared and cold-water acclimatization is his specialty. The danger is still present, but through his own physiological and psychological preparation, the risks have come way down and the cold water environment is where he is most comfortable.
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.