Retired 2012 Olympian and 2010 world 25 km champion Alex Meyer spent many hours in the pool and open water working out hard. But now he is even more active on dryland.
In addition to his start-up JÜJ, Meyer has created the first comprehensive ranking system and comparative data insights platform for professional open water athletes. He has been working in stealth mode on the unique platform since 2020.
The 35-year-old aquapreneur from Salem, Massachusetts explains, “The ranking system isn’t just a concept; it’s a game-changer. Utilizing an unbiased algorithm developed with input from athletes and coaches, it’s earned respect and acceptance in the open water community. But that was just the beginning.
I’ve also created Open Water Insights (OWI), a groundbreaking data insights application that centralizes the sport’s vital information, including results and rankings. OWI doesn’t just collect data; it transforms it into powerful visualizations that help athletes and coaches understand their performance, track progress, and strategize for success.
Imagine being able to analyze race outcomes, compare athletes, and identify trends—all at your fingertips. OWI is not just a tool; it’s a catalyst for empowerment and professionalization within the sport.“
Meyer hopes to raise US$5,000 on his GoFundMe project (see here). The OWI data on the 2024 Paris Olympic 10K Marathon Swim medal favorites, Leonie Beck of Germany, Sharon van Rouwendaal of the Netherlands and Ana Marcela Cunha of Brazil are below:
“I need your support. Your contribution will enable me to hire a software engineer to continue enhancing OWI’s features, making it even more user-friendly and insightful. Together, we can elevate open water swimming to new heights and provide athletes and coaches with the tools they need to succeed.”
In addition to his creative work on OWI, Meyer still spends hours on developing and marketing JÜJ. “I spent years as an Olympic athlete fine-tuning everything…about my body that would make me feel better and swim faster. As a lifelong athlete, diehard foodie, relentless seeker of interesting flavors and ingredients, and committed tinkerer with a strong background in chemistry and biology, I’ve combined these favorite parts of myself along with Megan Gerber’s deep gut health expertise to create JÜJ.“
Gerber explains, “Bitters are herbal tinctures made from an infusion of bitter plants and herbs. In the simplest terms, bitters stimulate the bitter receptors lining the GI tract to trigger a domino effect of enhanced digestion and overall gut health.”
But Meyer still has his toes literally in competitive open water swimming. Check out his GoFundMe project here.
© 2024 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
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