Abilio Couto, The Baron Of The Open Water

Sponsored by KAATSU Global, Huntington Beach, California.

Daniel Couto talked about the legacy of his grandfather Abilio Alvaro Da Costa Couto on today’s WOWSA Live.

There were a number of remarkable facts that were uncovered about Abilio, an International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer from Brazil, and a man of unusual ambitions and achievements:

* after beating all the professional marathon swimmers as an amateur, Abilio was awarded the title of Baron of Sorano, registered in Rome, Italy, by Prince Alexandre Marie de Deolz
* after setting the fastest times of the year (1958-1959*) across the English Channel in both directions, he gave the Rolex watch that he was awarded to J. Unicume Wood of the Channel Swimming Association
* turning down an offer of US$50,000 to set the two-way English Channel crossing in 1960 (worth US$437,030 in today’s money) as he wanted to remain an amateur

For more information, visit www.abiliocouto.com.

* In 1958, he swam from France to England in 12 hours 45 minutes that was the 6th fastest time in history at the time. In 1959, he swam from England to France in 12 hours 49 minutes, a record from 1959 to 1960, a Pan American record from 1959 to 1964 and a South American record from 1959 to 1979. In 1959, he swam from France to England in 11 hours 33 minutes that was the 3rd fastest time in history – at the time.

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