Liesl Schoonraad explains why she is doing the 7.5K Cadiz Freedom Swim from Robben Island to the mainland in Cape Town, South Africa. Her theme, goal and results of freeing the spirit from a limiting body are admirable, inspirational and uplifting. She is working to help those with cerebral palsy. Copyright © 2011 by Open […]

British officials formally approved the use of Hyde Park’s Serpentine lake for the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim for the 2012 London Olympics. A 3,000-seat grandstand will be erected in Hyde Park and a dock will be added to the lake for Olympic swimmers and triathletes. “Hyde Park will be a first-class backdrop for the triathlon

Open Water Source interviewed six incredibly humble men – good friends all – who used the all-encompassing power of positive thinking to swim 202 statute miles from Ventura to Santa Barbara to La Jolla, California over a 4-day period in water that ranged from 54°F (12.1°C) to 61°F (16.1°C). “The six of us together, we

In preparation for the Wrigley Ocean Marathon in January 1927, an eight-member relay team composed of the top California swimmers swam from Long Beach to Catalina Island, swimming legs of 30 minutes each. According to Dr. Penny Dean’s authoritative book, A History Of The Catalina Channel, the team crossed the Catalina Channel in 23 hours

Rok Kerin from Slovenia, appeared on Open Water Wednesday. In the interview, Rok talked about his life as a pro marathon swimmer, his travels and his impressions of his fellow marathon swimmers. Rok was ranked eighth on the 2010 FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix circuit and 32nd on the 2010 FINA 10K Marathon Swimming

FINA awarded Swimming Canada with its first World Junior Open Water Swimming Championships. The August 2012 event will be held in the Welland Recreational Canal in Ontario. Site of the annual Welland Four Bridges Swim, Swimming Canada‘s Pierre Lafontaine described the Welland Canal as perfect for open water racing. “The water conditions are stable and

At the latest FINA Bureau meeting in Dubai, a new FINA By-Law governing the approach to the finish at open water competitions: FINA Open Water (Bylaw 9.3.7.4): For all FINA Events, the Finish Approach (OWS 7.1) is part of the course, and swimmers shall remain within the rows of buoys throughout their approach to the

Dr. Steven Blair of the University of South Carolina published a fascinating study in the International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education. He evaluated comprehensive physical exams and behavioral surveys from thousands of people who were enrolled in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study over the last 32 years – and concluded with some great news

Swimming at night in the open water requires some mental fortitude, glow sticks or disc lights and a diligent escort crew. But surfing at night – especially in huge surf – is also impressive (crazy?) and most definitely requires a diligent safety and support crew. Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source