Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

This is a really difficult question: What is harder?

The 1-mile swim across a glacial lake on Mount Everest by Lewis Pugh or the 30-mile swim among Great White Sharks from the Farallons Islands to Aquatic Park in San Francisco by Karen Rogers?

While Pugh has to balance an ability to literally withstand freezing water (0°C or 32°F) with the need to climb to 17,000+ feet (5,200+ meters) in an unprecedented feat of courage and mental toughness, Rogers has to balance her personal safety among hungry and aggressive Great White Sharks in an area known as the Red Triangle with her desire to swim 30 miles in 10-12°C (50-53°F) waters.

Both are unbelievably courageous. Both are incredibly audacious.

Pugh will leverage his exploit in the highest mountain range in the world to incorporate within his ongoing climate change campaign awhile Rogers will be the subject of an inspirational PBS documentary and showcased in various film festivals around the world.

They are both beyond normal, beyond average, true story-book heroes.

With these open water heroes, Expect the Unexpected.

Copyright © 2010 by World Open Water Swimming Association