Bea Hartigan, a race organizer, volunteer, coach, water safety instructor and open water swimming promoter extraordinaire in the Huntington, New York area received a well-deserved write-up here.

It is humble, hard-working, selfless individuals like Bea who are the understated – but essential – backbone of the sport.

Bea has being helping and volunteering for local event, Paralympic events, Special Olympics events and USA Swimming events since 1960. Bea – and the multitudes of others like her around the world – truly make the sport of open water swimming what it is – a healthful, enjoyable, communal opportunity for athletes of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to challenge themselves against Mother Nature and their fellow competitors.

Photo courtesy of the Huntington Patch.

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