Swimming World Magazine named Jim McConica one of its 2011 World Masters Swimmers of the Year.

While he set world records in the pool in the 60-64 year age group in the 200m free (2:09.50), 400m free (4:37.74), 800m free (9:32.74), 1500m free (18:24.21), long course 800m free (9:55.28) and short course 200m back (2:29.60), he has been training for a few ocean swims too.

“The plan is to swim the Anacapa Channel eight times in seven days,” he told Swimming World Magazine about the 12.4-mile channel near Santa Barbara in California. “I hope to swim one solo crossing per day for the first six days, and on the seventh day, a double-crossing. Cold water, currents, chop, sea critters plus fatigue will be a big [99.2-mile] challenge.”

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