Visit Jersey – Ambassador: Sally Minty-Gravett, MBE from The Observatory.
Seven-time English Channel swimmer Sally Minty-Gravett MBE usually does her major swims within the confines of the English Channel, but she travels the world as a coach and ambassador of the sport.
After her iconic 36 hours 26 minute 67.6 km two-way crossing of the English Channel at the age of 59 two years ago, her voice and influence as a spokesperson has been shared even wider than before.
“The two-way was done 41 years after my first crossing in 1975,” she explained about her swims across the English Channel that have spanned a remarkable five decades:
* In August 1975, she crossed the 33.8 km English Channel from England to France in 11 hours 57 minutes at the age of 18.
* In September 1985, she crossed from England to France in 15 hours 3 minutes at the age of 28.
* In September 1992, she crossed from France to England in 12 hours 8 minutes at the age of 35.
* In July 2005, she crossed from England to France in 13 hours 31 minutes at the age of 47.
* In July 2013, she crossed from England to France in 17 hours 48 minutes at the age of 55.
* In August 2016, she achieved her long sought-after goal by swimming from England to France in 15 hours 3 minutes followed immediately from France to England in 21 hours 23 minutes at the age of 59.
Minty-Gravett will be one of the featured speakers at the 2018 WOWSA Talks held at The Olympic Club in downtown San Francisco on November 10th.
“For years, I had heard and written about Salley, but only from afar ,” says Steven Munatones of California. “Then a few years ago, I had the opportunity to meet her face-to-face for the first time. I was in awe of her down-to-earth, matter-of-fact focused perspective of the sport of swimming because it was obviously cloaked in compassion, passion and a healthy sense of humor and pure unadulterated joy.
She truly was born to swim – and inspire others to do so.
Having her speak at The Olympic Club will be a real treat for those who have not met her in person yet.”
The Olympic Club will host a great number of accomplished open water swimmers who have established their own iconic legacies in the sport:
* Evan Morrison of the Marathon Swimmers Federation on LongSwims database, insights and data analyses
* Oceans Seven swimmer Darren Miller on Utilizing Your Dryland Talents In The Open Water
* Dan Simonelli of the Open Water Swim Academy on Planning and Logistics of a Channel Swim
* Ed Rudloff and Mike McCaffery on The History of Open Water Swimming at the Olympic Club since 1860
* Bill Brenner, Chief Operating Officer of U.S. Masters Swimming on Open Water Swimming with U.S. Masters Swimming
* Bryce Elser, USA Swimming National Team Open Water Director, on Athlete Progression to Podium Success
* Shelley Taylor-Smith, 7-time world marathon swimming champion on The Year 1991
* Ram Barkai of the International Ice Swimming Association on The Future of Ice Swimming
* Multiple world record holder Pat Gallant-Charette on Never Too Old
* Oceans Seven swimmer Cameron Bellamy on Achieving The Oceans Seven
* Farallons Island and Oceans Seven swimmer Kimberley Chambers on Making A Comeback
* Ben Lecomte on Swimming Across The Pacific Ocean
* Sally Minty-Gravett, MBE on Born To Swim
* Steven Munatones on Tactics and Strategies Used at the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim
* Double Triple Crowner Antonio Argüelles of Mexico, World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year
* American Ice Sevens swimmer Jaimie Monahan, 2016 and 2017 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year
* Spaniard Margarita Llorens Bagur, World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year
* Sea Donkey with Adrian Sarchet and James Harrison of Guernsey, World Open Water Swimming Offering of the Year.“
For more information on the 2018 WOWSA Talks and WOWSA Awards, visit here.
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