At the halfway point of the 2010 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year, over 3,300 online votes have been cast for the 12 nominees.
Each of the women nominated in the annual award is a true heroine in her own way, symbolizing the very best of the sport of open water swimming. The group – and the sport in general – includes everyone from world champions to swimmers who simply enjoy the freedom in the water.
Many of the women have endured physiological and psychological battles for hours (if not days) in cold, turbulent, unforgiving oceans. Tough as nails in the water, these women are also as pleasant as pie out of the water.
These individuals, among hundreds of thousands of everyday young girls, mature women and grandmothers, best embody the spirit of open water swimming, possess the sense of adventure, tenacity and perseverance that open water swimmers are known for, and most positively influenced the world of open water swimming in 2010:
1. Ana Marcela Cunha (Brazil) – 1,191
2. Anne Marie Ward (Ireland) – 988
3. Linsy Heister (Netherlands) – 555
4. Barbara Held (USA) – 169
5. Jackie Cobell (Great Britain) – 139
6. Penny Palfrey (USA) – 117
7. Angela Maurer (Germany) – 60
8. Eva Fabian (USA) – 31
9. Diana Nyad (USA) – 28
10. Freda Streeter (Great Britain) – 26
11. Sue Oldham (Australia) – 26
12. Mighty Mermaids (USA) – 12
As the voting enters its final stretch, it looks like to be shaping up like a inter-continental dual between Ana Marcela Cunha, the 2010 FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup series champion, and Anne Marie Ward, a courageous North (Irish) Channel swimmer. But as in 2008 when Edith van Dijk came on strong during the second month to win the 2008 title, another Dutch swimmer, world champion Linsy Heister is looming in third place. If the past years are any indicator, this next month will show continued changes right up to December 31st.
Congratulations to all the nominees.
Photo shows the Freda Streeter who has spent countless hours helping others achieve their dream of successfully, safely and strategically crossing the English Channel.
Copyright © 2010 by World Open Water Swimming Association