Forrest Nelson does swims quietly without a lot of fanfare, but his swims are major events in marathon swimming circles. From swimming across Catalina Channel in December to swimming around Catalina Island itself, Forrest goes about his marathon business as quiet and efficiently as his arm strokes slicing through a glassy Pacific Ocean in the calm of night.
In July, Forrest replicated the 1980s feat of fellow Californian Cindy Cleveland by circumnavigating 48 miles around Catalina Island. 48 miles of cold, rough, swirling waters where eddies and currents and the possibly of aggressive marine life constantly challenged Forrest and his crew.
Towards the end of his 25 hour 35 minute oblong-shaped swim, Forrest faced several hallucinations about pirates, but was able to finish the swim safely.
For his humble nature, his ability to do things very few others can (he also completed his third Molokai Channel crossing this year in 17 hours 17 minutes), and his bold 25-hour circumnavigation around Catalina Island, Forrest Nelson is a worthy candidate for the 2011 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.