David Yudovin (MSF bio here) and his wife Beth Yudovin traveled the world, looking for new places to attempt channel crossings and marathon swims, well off the beaten path.

The California native began channel swimming in 1976 and was active in the sport until his untimely passing due to a heart attack in 2015 at the age of 63 while he was training on a treadmill for a future swim. He completed 34 solo marathon swims that included pioneering 27 unprecedented courses:

1. 1983: Santa Cruz Island to California Coast in 15 hours 15 minutes
2. 1984: North Coronado Island to Mexico (also completed in 1991) in 6 hours 22 minutes
3. 1990: Tsugaru Channel from Aomori Prefecture to Hokkaido in Japan in 13 hours 10 minutes
4. 1996: Bali to Java in Indonesia in 1 hour 36 minutes
5. 1997: Nusa Penida to Bali in Indonesia in 2 hours 48 minutes
6. 2000: Sunda Strait Java to Sumatra in Indonesia in 10 hours 34 minutes
7. 2003: Cape Wiwiki to Cape Brett, Bay of Islands in New Zealand
8. 2008: Faial Pico Channel Azores from Faial Island to Pico Island, Portugal
9. 2008: Pico S. Jorge Channel Azores from Pico Island to S. Jorge Island in Portugal
10. 2008: Corvo Floress Channel Azores from Corvo Island to Flores Island in Portugal
11. 2010 Ihla Madeira Ihla Desertas Grande Channel Madeira Islands from Ihla Madeira to Ihla Desertas Grande, Portugal
12. 2011: Sipika Island to Simaleko Island North Sumatra in Indonesia
13. 2011: Telo Island to Sigata Island North Sumatra in Indonesia
14. 2011: Tanah Masa Island to Pini Island North Sumatra in Indonesia
15. 2011 Sipika Island to Simaleko Island North Sumatra in Indonesia
16. 2011: Telo Island to Sigata Island North Sumatra in Indonesia
17. 2011: Tanah Masa Island to Pini Island North Sumatra in Indonesia
18. 2012: Santo Antonio Island to San Vincente Island Cape Verde, Africa
19. 2012: Fogo Island to Brava Island Cape Verde, Africa
20. 2013: Maio Island to Santiago Island Cape Verde, Africa
21. 2013: Simeleko Island to Tanahmasa Island Baluta Beach North Sumatra in Indonesia
22. 2013: Tanahmasa Island Rangas Beach to Simeleko Island North Sumatra in Indonesia
23. 2013: Telo Island to Sigata Island, North Sumatra in Indonesia
24. 2013: Pini Island to Laga Island, North Sumatra in Indonesia
25. 2013: Simeleko Island to Tanahmasa Island Baluta Beach in Indonesia
26. 2014: Principe Island Around Gale’ Rock Island/Principe Island Sao Tome’ in Africa
27. 2014: Tinhosa Pequena to Principe Island Sao Tome’ in Africa

Marathon Swimming Federation founder Evan Morrison honored his legacy with the annual Yudovin Award for the Most Adventurous Swim of the Year that is given to swimmers who completed unprecedented solo, unassisted marathon swims ratified by MSF or a MSF-recognized local organizations. The history of the Yudovin Award is full of historic adventures that David would be rightly very proud of. The Yudovin Award is a major part of the Ultraswimming Awards that recognize the most outstanding achievements and contributions in marathon swimming.

The Ultraswimming Awards are nominated and voted by members of the Marathon Swimmers Federation. Voting is currently open via MSF Member Portal through March 28th.

2025 Ultraswimming Award Solo Swim of the Year Finalists

The 2025 finalists include:

• Sarah Dobbin (Canada) for her 50.4 km swim in the Ottawa River, Canada from Parliament Hill to Wendover in 15 hours 55 minutes in August, ratified by Marathon Swimming Federation
• Leslie Hamilton (USA) for her 42.3 km swim in Lake Norman, North Carolina, USA from Highway 70 Bridge to Blythe Landing Boat Ramp in 14 hours 48 minutes in October, ratified by Marathon Swimming Federation
• Stephanie Montero Bending (Mexico) for her 42.8 km from Isla Isabel National Park to Marismas Nacionales Biosphere Reserve, Mexico in 15 hours 37 minutes in May, ratified by Marathon Swimming Federation
• Karen Zemlin (USA) for 22.9 km Lake Superior, Isle Royale to Pigeon Point in 6 hours 12 minutes in August, ratified by Marathon Swimming Federation

History of the Yudovin Awards (2014 – 2024)

2014 Yudovin Award Finalists

• Winner: Peter Hayden (USA) for a 37.7 km Anacapa Island around and back swim, first circumnavigation of Anacapa Island (11 miles in 5 hours 41 minutes, then back to the mainland without stopping (12.4 miles in 6 hours 59 minutes, sanctioned by Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association
• Finalist: Patti Bauernfeind (USA) for 40.2 km Monterey Bay crossing in 13 hours 0 minutes, second solo Monterey Bay swim, and the first since 1980
• Finalist: Katie Benoit (USA) for an unprecedented 33.8 km triple-width crossing of Lake Constance (Bodensee), Germany in 11 hours 40 minutes

2015 Yudovin Award Finalists

• Winner: Wendy Trehiou (Jersey, United Kingdom) for 56.3 km crossing from St. Malo, France to Jersey, United Kingdom in 24 hours 25 minutes
• Finalist: Dave Van Mouwerik (USA) for first to swim 23.2 km across Estero Bay, San Luis Obispo County, California in 8 hours 18 minutes, sanctioned and observed by Marathon Swimmers Federation
• Finalist: Jen Dutton (USA) for unprecedented 54.7 km A-B-C swim of the full shape of Keuka Lake, New York from Pen Yan to Hammodsport to Branchport in 22 hours
• Finalist: Peter Hayden (USA) for 5-mile circumnavigation of Santa Barbara Island and then without stopping 24 miles to Catalina Island covering 46.7 km in 16 hours 48 minutes, second person and first male to circumnavigate Santa Barbara Island; first to swim between Santa Barbara Island and Catalina Island

2017 Yudovin Award Finalists

• Winner: Jaimie Monahan (USA) for the first unassisted 59.6 km swim of the length of Lago Maggiore, Tenero-Contra, Switzerland to Sesto Calende, Italy in 24 hours 2 minutes, ratified by Marathon Swimmers Federation
• Finalist: Sydne Didier (USA) for the first 19.3 km circumnavigation of Isla Culebra, Puerto Rico in 6 hours 30 minutes
• Finalist: Karl Kingery (USA) for first known 9.25 km crossing of Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming in 4 hours 43 minutes at 7,733 feet (2357 meter) elevation
• Finalist: Brian Lanahan (USA) for first 22.5 km circumnavigation of James Island, South Carolina in 6 hours 21 minutes

2018 Yudovin Award Finalists

• Winner: Colleen Blair, MBE (Great Britain) for the first 37.3 km North Minch swim in 18 hours 46 minutes from Isle of Lewis to mainland Scotland, ratified by British Long Distance Swimming Association
• Finalist: Ryan Stramrood (South Africa) for first crossing of the 86 km Bering Strait relay with 4 swimmers from Cape Dezhnev, Russia to Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska
• Finalist: Mike Humphreys (USA) for first 12 km crossing of Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Homer Spit to Halibut Cove in 4 hours 35 minutes

2024 Yudovin Award Finalists

• Winner: Simone Blaser (Australia) for Upper Ord River, Western Australia in 16 hour 13 minutes, observed by Ane Hagen, ratified by Marathon Swimmers Federation
• Runner-Up: Jessica Kieras for a 81.7 km swim around Mission Peninsula in Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan, ratified by Marathon Swimmers Federation
• Finalist: Anke Höhne (Germany) for The Schlei, ratified by Marathon Swimmers Federation
• Finalist: Edie Markovich (USA) from Vis to Korcula, ratified by Marathon Swimmers Federation

© 2026 Daily News of Open Water Swimming

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