Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

Dr. Mark Smitherman is a 57-year-old American marathon swimmer and member of the Half Century Club from Clearwater, Florida.

The internist achieved both the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming and the Grand Slam of Open Water Swimming with an English Channel crossing this summer.

He explains what attracts him to channels around the world.

“I have never have golfed a hole in my life and doubt I ever will. I never in a million years thought I would like training for cold open water swims, but the people I have met and the incredible experiences I have encountered – the ultimate of which was Cork Distance Week – have really addicted me to this sport. I have never felt more alive than I do when training for a major swim like the English Channel.”

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