Open Water Swimming News & Views

  Pablo Fernández Álvarez swam a total cumulative distance of 104.3 kilometers over a 24-hour period in an Endless Pool in Madrid. The 43-year-old Spanish swimmer and entrepreneur swam between 11:00:22 am on April 19th and 20th. The entirety of Pablo’s swim, including hourly rest and feeding breaks, was recorded and livecast on YouTube (see above). The swim was organized by Libertad Silva and Venus Aguillón and supported by observers Jorge Gómez, Emilio Carrasco, Pablo García, Daniel Olmos, and Juan Fran. After the 24-hour Guinness World Record swim, Silva reported that Pablo was doing well as confirmed by a physician who checked his vital signs. " Surprisingly enough, he was at 77 heartbeats/minute like if he hadn't been swimming for 24 hours ."

Paul Georgescu was selected as the 2021 WOWSA Awards winner as the 2021 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year . He will attempt crossings of Strait of Gibraltar , Tsugaru Channel , and Bristol Channel this summer. This will enable him to achieve the Original Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming . He has already completed four Oceans Seven channels: *35 km crossing of the North Channel between Northern Ireland and Scotland in 11 hours 7 minutes *33.5 km English Channel in 13 hours 36 minutes *32.3 km crossing of the Catalina Channel in 9 hours 8 minutes *42 km crossing of the Molokai Channel from Molokai Island to Oahu in 13 hours 6 minutes

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...

The Weather Channel's latest on-camera talent and marathon swimmer Bruckner Chase is now wanted by the Police and Fire Departments in Melbourne, Florida. The departments have placed Chase's WAVE SAFE stickers on their official vehicles as a way to promote ocean awareness and safety. As warmer temperatures roll around throughout the United States, Chase will be seen more and more often on The Weather Channel as its Ocean Expert: TWC Ocean Safety America's Weekend HQ 4-9-23 from Bruckner Chase on Vimeo . The Weather Channel Ocean Safety Weekend Recharge 4-9-23 from Bruckner Chase on Vimeo .

Kelly-Ann Jenkins is a homeowner’s insurance and personal injury attorney in St. Petersburg, Florida. In her official bio she writes about her hobbies simply and succinctly, " In her free time, Kelly-Ann enjoys traveling, running, and triathlons ." That may be one of the most understated and modest descriptions of an extreme athlete that we have ever read. Jenkins grew up and went to law school in Florida, interning on the Sixth Judicial Circuit, the Fifth District Court of Appeals, and the State Attorney’s Office in Clearwater. Upon graduation, she joined a large firm in Tampa, where she litigated, deposed witnesses, and tried. Today, she works with her husband at Jenkins Law P.L. in St. Petersburg. Although she grew up as a competitive swimmer, Jenkins ran her first marathon in law school. She swore, " I will never do that again ." She moved on compete in several half Ironmans and one full Ironman Triathlon. She again swore, " I will never do ...

Steven Leitch , swimming under the escort of Captain Matt Buckman , started last night on Molokai Island to swim across the Molokai Channel . The 49-year-old from North Carolina landed 42 km on Oahu 12 hours 54 minutes later, together with his team of Michelle Walker Nault, Livy, Jay, Emmett, and his dog Wallace. He used the crossing to raise money for counseling costs for the foster children of Miracle Hill Ministries . To learn more and to donate, visit here .

The future of flying - and its former crowded past... If the Multicabin® design really comes to fruition, there will be a lot of happy and more restful open water swimmers traveling internationally to their open water swims and channel crossings (across the Cook Strait, English Channel, Catalina Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, Tsugaru Channel, Molokai Channel, Travessia do Leme ao Pontal, Sea of Galilee, 20 Bridges Swim, International Self-Transcendence Marathon Swim, Lake Ontario, SCAR, etc.). The elimination of the middle seat on international flights will be a greatly welcomed change. Imagine arriving to your destination not feeling groggy, fatigued, and totally jetlagged. If there are channel swimmers from the Americas, Europe, or Africa interested in attempting a Cook Strait crossing in New Zealand, Air New Zealand will soon offer Skynest, the first sleeping pods in the sky for economy class passengers. Swimmers can catch a few very welcomed hours of restful sleep in a fl...