Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

For the first time in history based on what we know, the United States federal government acknowledged the profession of marathon swimming.

Yuko Matsuzaki, a 2010 International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honour Swimmer and Japanese national originally from Tokyo, wanted to move to the United States.

In order to do so, she needed a green card that would enable her to live in Florida as a permanent resident.

Surprisingly, Matsuzaki applied for her green card as a professional marathon swimmer.  That was in fact what she does, but the profession had never been acknowledged before.

¨I did not apply for my green card due to
marriage or a different profession like sales, engineering, or coaching.
Of course, the immigration authorities had no record or knowledge of
marathon swimming as a profession.  But I kept on swimming and proving my
profession. Swim, proof, swim, proof…¨

Her diligence, seriousness and passion paid off.  Her profession was
officially acknowledged and accepted by the United States Immigration &
Naturalization Services.

It was apparently unprecedented.

¨I spent so much time and energy to prove my profession as a marathon swimming. For 18 years.  But now the authorities have officially approved me as a marathon swimmer.  Yes, it is a job and it really exists.¨

Copyright © 2014 by World Open Water Swimming Association