A Major Transformation In Open Water Swimming

Courtesy of WOWSA, Redondo Beach – Palos Verdes Peninsula, California.

There are been major tipping points and transformations throughout the history of open water swimming:

1875: The crossing of the English Channel by Captain Matthew Webb that opened up the eyes of swimmers, the public and the media about a new extreme sport and unprecedented sense of adventurism.

1926: The crossing of the English Channel by Gertrude Ederle that demonstrated the abilities and potential of women in the sport of open water swimming and establishment of the Channel Swimming Association to govern channel swims across the English Channel.

1986: The crossing of the Bering Strait by Lynne Cox that expanded the imaginations of extreme athletes and cold water swimmers.

1990’s: The introduction and adoption of GPS in the sport that enabled swimmers, captains, crews, race directors and media to understand the exact distance of a channel crossing, races and events in the open water.

2000’s: The widespread adoption of jammers among men and tech suits by competitive swimmers of both genders.

2012: The establishment of the Marathon Swimmers Federation that codified rules and established a global database of marathon swims.

“I see the advent of a new kind of race director in the open water swimming community over the next few decades,” predicted Steven Munatones.  “Many individuals are getting into the sport as a professional, either part-time or full-time.  They have a profit motive; they want to make money; they want to take their passion for the open water and make a living out of it.

Throughout the 20th century, the sport was built upon the shoulders and efforts of dedicated volunteers.  People did not charge for their talents, time or know-how.  Race directors and key individuals spent hundreds of hours organizing events and helping out.  These selfless individuals made the sport and shaped it.

Now the sport is undergoing another major transformation