True Heroes Serve To Uplift, Support, Inspire Others
Courtesy of Jim Clifford with Sally Minty-Gravett and Charlie Gravett. It has always been our opinion that the real heroes of the sport of open water swimming are those individuals who are not only great athletes or pilots themselves, but also those whose actions serve to uplift, support, and inspire others.
These heroes are individuals like Jim Clifford with his channel swimming exploits over the age of 60, Sally Minty-Gravett with her marathon swimming exploits over the past 5 decades, and Charlie Gravett who has served as an escort pilot over 20 years.
After being recognized as an Honour Contributor by the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame due to his lifelong work as an administrator of the Jersey Long Distance Swimming Club and a prolific escort boat captain, Charlie admitted his surprise and exposed his humility – simple and profound examples why he is truly a hero of the sport.
“[Last] Saturday evening at the Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation annual dinner, I was totally knocked bandy with Ned Denison’s proclamation of my induction into the IMSHOF as an Honour Contributor. I very much appreciate the honour’ however my duties are very much as part of a team here in Jersey. I am pleased to accept the award on behalf of all those who assist and support our crews in our sea-going adventures.”
Copyright © 2016 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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