Some reporters have colofully written how open water swimming combines the aerobic conditioning of running, the tactics of cycling and the toughness of water polo (or boxing).

Little did we know that Manny Pacquiao, one of the world’s greatest boxers who is a seven-division world champion and the first boxer in history to win nine world titles in seven different weight divisions, incorporates swimming into his training program.

The Filipino politician and boxer, named Fighter of the Decade by the Boxing Writers Association of America, swam but not all was easy, “I swallowed a lot of water.”

His conditioning coach observed, “There is no better conditioning than to hit the pool.” (no pun intended)

The breath-taking conditioning of a marathon runner, the tactical brilliance of a chessmaster, the graceful efficiency of a rower, the courage of a big-wave surfer and the physical toughness of a boxer…that is the make-up of elite open water swimmers.

Copyright © 2010 by World Open Water Swimming Association