Nearly 100 years after her record-setting swim in San Francisco Bay, the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame will recognize one of the early pioneers of open water swimming Nell Schmidt.
Nell did her swim in 1912 by the City of Alameda, California across the bay from San Francisco.
The pigskin award shown above is currently stored at Nell’s surviving granddaughter’s home in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.
Nell swam across San Francisco Bay as a 20-year-old.
The award reads, “Presented to Miss Nell Schmidt by the People of Alameda, California In recognition of her great achievement in being the first woman to swim across San Francisco Bay and for her loyalty to her home city – Alameda. 1912“
Nell is shown on left from a photo courtesy of the historical records of the City of Alameda.
In a much different era, Nell’s efforts are richly honored by her contemporary peers and her exploit will be remembered on the final day of the Global Open Water Swimming Conference where the following heroes and heroines of the sport will be recognized at the United Nations:
International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame – Honor Swimmers
• Dr. Harry Huffaker (USA)
• Yuko Matsuzaki (Japan)
• Anne Cleveland (USA)
• Fran Crippen (USA)
• Thomas Heltzel (USA)
International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame – Honor Administrators
• Drury Gallagher (USA)
International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame – Honor Coach
• Richard Campion (Australia)
International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame – Pioneer Swimmer
• William ‘Bill’ Goll (USA)
International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame – Honor Organization / Club
• Rottnest Channel Swim (Australia)
• NYC Swim (USA)
• Catalina Channel Swimming Federation (USA)
International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame – Certificate of Merit Recipients
• Cliff Lumsden (Canada)
• George Young (Canada)
• Claudio Plit (Argentina)
• Thomas Hoad (Australia)
• Dr. Jane Katz (USA)
• Philip Rush (New Zealand)
• Zouheir El Moufti (Morocco)
• Jorge Delgado Panchana (Ecuador)
• Nell Schmidt (USA)
• Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation (Great Britain)
• Midmar Mile (South Africa) – represented by Wayne Ridden
International Swimming Hall of Fame – Honor Swimmer
Michael Read (Great Britain)
International Swimming Hall of Fame – President’s Award
Lewis Pugh (Great Britain)
If you would like to attend these ceremonies, which are open to anyone and everyone, click here for information and registration.
Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source