Women Go 1-2-3 In Manly Event
The 1931 Manly International 500 Endurance Swimming Contest was the first professional swimming contest of its kind in Australia as well as a charity swim for the Manly Hospital Citizens’ Relief Fund. 60 swimmers from England, America, Italy, New Zealand and Australia including English Channel and Strait of Gibraltar swimmer Mercedes Gleitze, New Zealand marathon swimmer Lily Copplestone and endurance phenom Charles Zibelman competed in the non-stop competition in Manly Baths.
The competition was to see who could swim the longest for a total cash prize of £500. The competitors were fed with liquid food through a tube provided by assistants from a boat. The food consisted of chicken broth, milk, and chocolate in liquid form.
Women went 1-2-3 when Gleitze ultimately won in 48 hours 15 minutes with Katerina Nehua second in 47 hours 52 minutes and Copplestone in third.
Copyright © 2012 by Open Water Source
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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