When Alex Kostich steps up to the starting line in any open water swim, the fast swimmers know where he is. When finishers gather at the finish line in any open water swimmer, swimmers of all ages and abilities know who he is: the guy with the biggest smile on his face.
Over the course of his career, Kostich has won many races, from the Pan American Games to the Waikiki Roughwater Swim, Swim Around Charleston, Naples Island Swims, and Swim Around Key West in addition to his solo circumnavigation swims around Bora Bora and Pitcairn Island.
For his achievements over his long career, the Aquatic Capital of America selected Kostich as its 2024 Masters Athlete of the Year in its annual ceremony that honors inspirational individuals and organizations in Long Beach, California. His most commonly swum events include the following:
- Waikiki Roughwater Swim in Honolulu, Hawaii where he has competed every year since 1993 with 3 overall victories in 1994, 2002, and 2006, and all finishes were among the Top 10 Men and 26 were among the Top 10 overall finishes
- La Jolla Gatorman in Southern California where he has competed 16 times, winning 9 times including in 2023
- St. Croix Coral Reef Swim Race in the Caribbean Sea where he has competed 23 times since 1999, winning 19 times and missing one year due to shoulder surgery
- Dwight Crum Pier-To-Pier Swim near Los Angeles where he has competed 24 times, winning 11 times
- Bora Bora Liquid Festival, winning in French Polynesia as well as pioneering first 19 km circumnavigation swim around Bora Bora
- 16-mile Seal Beach Rough Water Swim winning in 2000 in Southern California
- Naples Island Swim in Long Beach, California where he has won 20 times
- Swim Around Key West in Florida where he won two times
- Tiki Swim, winning in Carlsbad
- Pitcairn Island where he pioneered a circumnavigation swim
- Swim Around Key West, winning in south Florida
- 19.3 km Swim Around Charleston, winning in South Carolina
Kostich was honored alongside Kristina Duggan as the Tom Shadden Citizen of the Year, Mike Segerblom of the Pacific Sailing Foundation for the Community Service Award, Maggie Twinem for Outstanding Achievement, Brenden Gruneisen and Lawrence Durand as Coaches of the Year, Catherine Som de Ceff and Isabella Chem for High School Achievement Awards, the Naples Island Swims for Organization of the Year (with Merritt Morris, Kaia Hedlund, Laura McDonald, Andrew Barber, Bruce Bradley, Matt Shea, Parks Wesson, Scott Dixon, Mike Baker, and Greg Shea), Greg Shea as the Dick Miller Waterman of the Year, and Hannes Daube as Athlete of the Year.
His most logistically challenging swim was a 9.8 km circumnavigation swim around Pitcairn Island that was delayed because he simply could not reach the island as scheduled. He finally reached Pitcairn Island and took a chance on attempting the swim on the last day of his window, finishing in 2 hours 37 minutes to set a Guinness World Record [see above].
Kostich explained the circumnavigation, “Pitcairn is the least populous and most remote national jurisdiction in the world. The Pitcairn Islanders are a biracial ethnic group descended mostly from nine Bounty mutineers and the handful of Tahitians who accompanied them, an event that has been retold in many books and films. This history is still apparent in the surnames of many of the islanders. Today there are approximately 50 permanent inhabitants, originating from four main families.“
Stephen Childers and James Finnerty of Lupine Travel who obtained the necessary clearances for the swim attempt with the island locals, served as part of his escort crew. His detailed first-hand account of his swim is posted here.
For more information on the Aquatic Capital of America and all its honorees, visit www.aquaticcapital.org.
The program helps fund the Waterproof Our Youth, a program that funds swim lessons for local youth as part of its mission to eliminate drowning injuries and deaths.
© 2024 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
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