Forrest Nelson does swims quietly without a lot of fanfare, but his shadow over the channel swimming world stretches far.

Not only does he do marathon swims himself from a 48-mile circumnavigation of Catalina Channel in July to the 26-mile Molokai Channel in May, but he also serves as the charismatic President of the Catalina Channel Swim Federation while frequently serving as observer and support crew. Forrest goes about his marathon business as efficiently as his arms slicing through a glassy Pacific Ocean in the calm of night and is a nominee for the 2011 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year.

Learn more and vote HERE for the 2011 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year the 2011 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year, and the 2011 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.

Editor’s Note: Forrest completed his 48-mile circumnavigation in July – not January. Also, Cindy Cleveland completed the first circumnavigation around Catalina Island in 1979.

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