Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

Julie Newton started off her swimming career in Southern California and continued it in Reno, Nevada. After she received her masters degree, she found herself working as an expatriate in Tokyo.

Things were going well until she was transferred to Singapore. “I wasn’t ready for the move; things were going so well in Japan.”

But the American made the most of it and quickly settled into her career far away from her native and adopted homes. She made lots of swimming friends – including the Team SeaMonstas of Singapore – even though the water temperatures in the pools and open water were way above her optimal for channel crossings.

Earlier this year in August, she became the first person from Singapore to swim across the Catalina Channel, finishing in 13 hours 35 minutes.

“My teeth were chattering. After I told my crew (mother, Steve Robles and Marc Horowitz), they gave me hot chocolate and I felt better.”

Despite the warm air and water temperatures that she faces daily, Newton will incorporate ice baths into her training for future channel swims.

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