Courtesy of Elm Hill.
Paul Asmuth describes his path to success as the 7-time World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation champion in the 1980s, “The story of my marathon swimming journey is how the hand of God directed me throughout my life, to put me in the right place and, more importantly, with the right coaches and teammates who would build my mind, body, and spiritual path to achieve great success, as improbable as this was in my early days.
Looking back on life, it is easy to see how the decisions we made impacted our future. For me, the links between these choices have been Divine inspirations and appointments. Without my belief that God has a plan for my life, the odds of success seem very low.”
He explains much more in his book Marathon Swimming: The Sport of the Soul.
Published earlier this year by Elm Hill, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, the book can be reviewed and purchased here].
Asmuth competed in 59 professional marathon swimming races and crossed the English Channel three times over a lengthy career that coincided with a career as a CPA in California. While winning his World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation titles, he set course records from Canada to Italy.
As the dominant figure in professional marathon swimming during the 1980’s, he struck fear in the hearts of his competitors. But deep down in his heart and soul, God played a major role in his success. Marathon Swimming: The Sport of the Soul was nominated for the 2018 World Open Water Swimming Offering of the Year along with an eclectic mix of products, events and services:
1. A History of Marathon Swimming (USA) by Joe Grossman & Steve Walker
2. AKUA Kelp Jerky (USA) by Courtney Boyd Myers
3. Asociación de Cruce a Nado del Río de la Plata (Argentina) by Lucas Rivet
4. ENERGYbits® (USA) by Catharine Arnston
5. Icebears Hintertux (Austria) by Josef Köberl
6. International Ice Swimming Association World Cup Series by Ram Barkai
7. Marathon Swimming: The Sport of the Soul (USA) by Paul Asmuth
8. Maelstrom Seven by Wild Swimming Brothers
9. Ontberingen van een marathonzwemster / Hardships Of A Marathonswimmer (Netherlands) by Monique Blok-Wildschut
10. Patagonia Swim (Chile) by Cristian Vergara and Julieta Núñez Gundlach
11. St. Lucia Channel Swim (St. Lucia & Martinique) by Sue Dyson & Nathaniel Waring
12. Tahiti Swimming Experience (Tahiti) by Stéphane Debaere & Tahitian Swimming Federation
13. Take Your Dream (Australia) by Eric, Hunter and Tuck Helmick
14. TOWER 26 (USA) by Gerry Rodrigues
15. Waikiki Roughwater Swim DIY Swim Certificate (Hawaii) by Michael Rök & Jim Cotton
To vote on the WOWSA Awards and the World Open Water Swimming Offering of the Year, visit here.
Past winners of the World Open Water Swimming Offering of the Year include:
* 2012: SWIM Channel by Patrick Wrinkler (Brazil)
* 2013: International Ice Swimming Association by Ram Barkai (South Africa)
* 2014: Step Out Of The Ordinary Blue Letter Campaign by Pádraig Mallon and Camlough Lake Water Festival (Ireland)
* 2015: World Ice Swimming Championships in Murmansk, Russia by the International Ice Swimming Association
* 2016: Samsung Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim (Turkey)
* 2017: Sea Donkey by James Harrison about Adrian Sarchet of Guernsey
Copyright © 2008-2018 by World Open Water Swimming Association