Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.
The renowned Michael Read will join several other luminaries in the International Swimming Hall of Fame Honoree Induction Class of 2011 this weekend in Florida.
“The 2011 Induction Ceremony will recognize an internationally diverse and remarkable class of aquatic personalities,” said Mike Snyder, Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Besides Read, Olympic swimming champions Ian Thorpe (Australia) and Lenny Krayzelburg (USA), synchronized swimmer Miya Tachibana (Japan) and coach Re Calcaterra (USA), water polo player Aleksandar Sostar (Yugoslavia/Serbia) and coaches Denes Kemeny (Hungary) and Thomas Hoad (Australia) will be honored.
“All eight of these individuals have left a positive impact in the aquatic disciplines and we are pleased to recognize their successes and contributions.”
Read has long been heralded by the marathon swimming community, but it is great to see him similarly recognized by the wider aquatic community.
Read has 33 successful crossings of the English Channel under his belt and was the first person to complete four swims in a year, the first person to complete five swims in a year and the first person to complete six swims in a year (1984). He also made the latest swim of the season recorded; there was frost on the pebbles as he walked into the sea. His crossings include five unsuccessful double-crossing attempts.
Read has completed over 110 swims greater than 16 km (9.9 miles) with most of his swims in cold water ranging from 6°-15°C (42°-60°F). He was the Lake Windermere champion between 1969 and 1977, setting a record six times. He swam 96.5 km (60 miles) around Isle of Wright in 24 hours 36 minutes, 35.4K (22 miles) across Loch Lomond, 25.7 km (16 miles) across Loch Eurn, 25.7 km (16 miles) across Lock Tay, 40 km (25 miles) between Jeble and Latakia in Syria 25 km, and 25 km (15.5 miles) between Evian to Lausanne in Switzerland.
He was the 1960 and 1961 British Long Distance Champion, the double-crossing 33.7 km (21-mile) Lake Windermere Champion for nine consecutive years between 1969 and 1977. He was the third person to swim the 38.6 km (24-mile) Loch Ness in 14 hours 23 minutes in 6°-7°C (42.8°-44.7°F) water. He was the first to swim Loch Lomond twice (35.4 km or 22 miles) once in 12 hours 13 minutes and later in 11 hours 51 minutes. He set record for the 14.4 km (9-mile) Loch Rannoch swim in 1975 in 5 hours 8 minutes and completed the first 16 km (10-mile) swim from Kings Lynn to Downham Market in England in 1975 in 4 hours 54 minutes.
He was the first person to swim 64.3 km or 40 miles between Hunstanton and Skegness and Hunstanton, 65 km (40 miles) from Mora to Amposta in Spain in 1998 in 14 hours and 57 minutes, 37.8 km (23.5 miles) from Perth to Broughty Ferry in Australia in 1974 in 9 hours 43 minutes, 25.7 km (16 miles) between Hunstanton-Skegness in 1975 in 8 hours 30 minutes, 18 km (11.1 miles) in a double-crossing of Lake Sursee in Switzerland, a 49.8 km (31-mile) triple-crossing of Lake Windermere in 19 hours 0 minutes, a 67.5 km (42-mile) quadruple-crossing of Lake Windermere in 26 hours 3 minutes.
He completed a 40.2 km (25-mile) Nile International Championship in 1977, 40.2 km (25 miles) from Jeble to Latakia in Syria in 1977, 28.9 km (18 miles) from Jarach to Sabac in Yugoslavia in 1990, 32 km (20 miles) across Lake Como from Dervio to Lecco in 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1989, 48 km (28.5 miles) around Manhattan Island in New York, USA in 1989, Torregaveta Baia Bacoli in 1986 and 1987, 32 km (20 miles) across Lake Zurich from Rapperswil to Zurich in 1988, was the 25.7 km (16-mile) Windermere International Champion in 1970 and did the 25.7 km (16-mile) Windermere International in 1974, 1978 and 1982, swum 16.8 km (10.5 miles) across Lake Windermere 39 times, swam 20.9 km (13 miles) from Fleetwood to Morecambe in England, swam four times in Morecambe Cross Bay race, won the International Olympic Committee Championship between Evian and Lausanne in Switzerland in 1991 and 1993, won the International Olympic Committee Championship between Lausanne and Evian in 1992 and 1994, participated in the 25 km (15.5-mile) Gulf of Toroneos swim in Greece in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, swam 9 km (5.5 miles) from Proventura to Lerici in Italy in 1993, participated in the British Amateur Swimming Association National 5 km Championship in 1966 (3rd), 1967 (3rd), 1968 (3rd), 1969 (5th), 1970 (3rd), 1971 (6th), participated in the 25 km (15.5-mile) Amateur Swimming Association National Championship in 1996 (2nd) and 1999 (3rd), Amateur Swimming Association Masters 5 km Championship in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, swam 23 km (14.2 miles) from Stavoren to Medemblik in Isslmeer in Holland in 1998, 1999 and 2000, 33 km (20.5 miles) from Koroni to Kalamata in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2005, 33 km (20.5 miles) from Kalamata to Koroni in 2003 and 2004, 23 km (14.2 miles) across Lake Trichonida in 2000, and 25 km (15.5 miles) in the World Marathon Series in Alexandria, Egypt in 2000.
He was elected as the British Long Distance Swimming Association Swimmer of the Year in 1979 and 1999, an honorary citizen of Dervio (Lake Como) in 1988 and an honorary citizen of Nikiti (Greece) in 1993.
He has been the Channel Swimming Association Chairman since 1993 and was an alternate member of the British 1960 Olympic team in the 800-meter freestyle relay. He has served as a swimming administrator in one capacity or another for almost 50 years. He was a FINA judge, timekeeper, referee and starter between 1969 and 1971, and received the Irving Davids / Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award in 2009.
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