Open Water Swimming News & Views

Shelley Taylor-Smith reported on Andy Donaldson's journey around the world in his pursuit of the Oceans Seven . " Update on our Aussie Scottish Perth City Swimming Club swimmer is that he is doing well [and was] taken to hospital for assessment. Smart thinking when you consider, he had the flu last week, he started his Molokai Channel [crossing] 30 hours after landing in Hawaii, swam 15 hours 50 minutes in 25.2°C water, experienced sea sickness for four hours, and then swimming into beach to finish, Andy swallowed a jellyfish. He couldn’t swallow properly when he got back on the boat after completing his solo swim...he had had an allergic reaction. So [he was given an] epinephrine injection, an IV drip, and an antihistamine injection. It is a delight to mentor and an absolute delight to see and hear the growth physically mentally emotionally and spiritually with each [of his Oceans Seven swims ." Bill Goding reported his official time as confirmed by esco...

Andy Donaldson of Scotland broke the long-standing record of the Cook Strait by 4 minutes in his 4 hour 33 minute crossing on March 7th. Jacqueline McClelland , who crewed with Jackson Kibbelwhite and Sarah Harrow and NZOWSA observer Jackson Arlidge , reported on the 23 km crossing from South Island to North Island in New Zealand. " Andy swam at a 1:10 per 100 meter pace in the 14-15°C water, escorted by Grant Orchard of Katabatic Charters ." Donaldson was humbled by the experience, writing on Facebook: " I'm truly lost for words with that one...to swim through the night with a sky full of stars, during a spring tide, with such a wonderful team by my side... that was a special experience that will sit with me forever. We got across safely with perhaps one of my best ever executed swims, and as an incredible bonus, the swim was the fastest Cook Strait crossing ever, lowering one of marathon swimming's long-standing records, Casey Glover's 4 hour 3...

Who are among the best open water swimmers in history? Who are considered legends, icons, heroes, heroines, historic figures in the sport? Everyone has their favorite swimmers. Any list of the Best Open Water Swimmers of the Decade is, by necessity, subjective. But it is certainly fun to discuss and debate among open water swimming historians and fans. Below are our choices for the Best Open Water Swimmers of the 1990's. This selection of the Best Open Water Swimmers of the 1990's is based on four criteria with the following priority: 1. Champions - or swimmers who won major international races against the best swimmers of their era 2. Pioneers - or swimmers who completed unprecedented extreme swims of any distance in any location 3. Record Holders - or swimmers who set records across channels, lakes, seas, either in competition or on a solo swim 4. Endurers - or swimmers who swam for distance in any open body of water at various temperatures That is, if a Cham...