The Success Of Team Dire Straits
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. In September 2007 across the Straits of Mackinac, 50 swimmers celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Mackinac Bridge between Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas with another 50,000+ thousand colleagues.
The 50 members of Team Dire Straits raised over US$58,000 for Mentor Michigan in a charity swim organized by Jim Dreyer and conceived by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm.
As part of the Governor’s promotion for physical fitness and held in conjunction with the annual Mackinac Bridge Walk led by the Governor, Team Dire Straits was cheered on as they swam in 6 groups by over 50,000 people who were concurrently walking on the Mackinac Bridge.
“Out on the Straits, there is so much time to think,” recalled Kellie Nightlinger [shown above] who has also completed five 4-mile swims across the straits over her career.
“It is incredible, everything about the bridge,” described Dreyer. “It really is an architectural marvel, not only for the state, but for the country, and when you are on a long swim, believe me, it is great to have something like that to look at.”
Copyright © 2014 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. 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.
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