Earlier this year, Trent Theroux completed a 16 hour 20 minute 41.5-mile circumnavigation swim around Aquidneck Island in Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay.
His charity swim, called Back to Newport, benefits RISE Above Paralysis, was a deeply personal cause. “13 years ago, I was run over by a motorboat. The propellers severed all the major muscles in my back and carved out five pieces of my spine. The accident left me paralyzed, temporarily.”
He was down and out. But Theroux fought all the back and swam to raise money for those who are not fortunate enough to stand up from the hospital bed. “I now swim for those who were not fortunate enough to stand up from the hospital bed.”
For his never-ending spirit and for his charitable giving to those who face similar problems, Theroux’s Back to Newport swim is nominated for the 2015 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year.
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.