Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

We are always touched by the camaraderie shown by open water swimmers.

In this photo by Dr. Jim Miller of the action at the feeding station during the 2009 women’s 25 km world championship race, the legendary swimmer Fran Crippen is shown holding a feeding stick to provide hydration to teammate Eva Fabian.

Because open water swimmers know well what they all go through, during practice and during races, the bonds that they forge are deep, emotional and long-lasting.

American coach Rick Walker has many touching stories about feeding during long competitions. “I was on a feeding station at the 2007 FINA World Championships. A swimmer from Guyana swam by the feeding station without hydration. But the next time the swimmer passed, I extended my feeding stick to him. He smiled so broadly. He drank quickly, looked up, and waved in appreciation.

By the time the swimmer from Guyana had passed the feeding station for the third time, the swimmer had offers of hydration from most of the coaches on the feeding station. It was not about competition at that point, it was about the camaraderie of open water swimmers.”

Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association