Willy van Rysel is one of only two individuals (along with Drury Gallagher) to be honored by both the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame and the International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame.

A double-IMSHOF Honour Swimmer, Rysel passed away at the age of 96 on September 19th. Besides her success in the open water where she swam several unprecedented swims, she also set 42 FINA Masters world records since 1977 when she competed in 8 different age groups in the pool (55-59 thru 90-94).

In 1972, she became the first woman to receive the prestigious Irving Davids – Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award.

Her citation read, “for gaining acceptance of women distance swimmers and for promoting long distance swimming over the age of 40 in England.” Now long the fastest growing demographic group in the open water swimming community, many can now appreciate the drive and force that was embedded within the heart and mind of the indomitable swimmer from Great Britain.

She is now gone, but she leaves a positive legacy with her long-standing impact she had on the sport from the chlorinated confines of the pool to the dynamic conditions out in the open water.

Copyright © 2012 by World Open Water Swimming Associaiton