Courtesy of Ned Denison, Chairman of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.
Michelle Macy’s accomplishments in the open water swimming world are lengthy and were officially recognized by her peers today.
The International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame announced that Macy will be inducted as an Honor Swimmer in its Class of 2019, joining other celebrated heroes and heroines.
Her Class of 2019 includes Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli director Luciano Cotena, 2-time Olympian Thomas Lurz, multiple world champion Ana Marcela Cunha, and International Swimming Hall of Fame administrator and coachBob Duenkel.
She responded to the honor in her typically humble manner, “[I am] so incredibly honored to be even considered to join this group of swimmers, organizers and pilots. It takes so many people to make one swimmer a success. To all that have helped me, mentored me, kept me safe. This award is as much yours than mine.”
The 41-year-old American marathon swimmer from Oregon began swimming at a young age and was a competitive swimmer through college. She later focused her talents on marathon and channel swimming while working at Nike as a Process Improvement Expert.
Her brand, MacySwim, is her platform for things does in and out of the water in the open water swimming space, raising over US$50,000 to date for the Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota earmarked for Breast Cancer research. “I am made for swimming. It is where I belong and where I find joy. It has allowed me to help others. This is why I swim,” she explains.
And swims she does.
* Macy was the third person in history to achieve the Oceans Seven and complete all seven of the world’s major channels: English Channel,
Catalina Channel, North Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, Cook Strait, Molokai Channel and Tsugaru Channel in 2013
* 7.5 km across Lake Titicaca in Chile in 12.7°C (55°F) water in Chile in 2 hours 30 minutes in 2017
* 6 km across the Bosphorus Strait from Asia to Europe in Istanbul, Turkey in 1 hour 1 minute in 2017
* 4.6 km across the Strait of Magellan in Chile in 58 minutes 13 seconds to set record in 2017
* 2 km across the Beagle Channel in 7°C water from Glacier Italia on Tierra del Fuego to Gordon Island in Chile in 33 minutes 51 seconds to set record in 2017
* 6 km Circle of Health International Awareness Swim in Monterey Bay, California in 2016
* Named one of World’s 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Women by the World Open Water Swimming Association in 2015
* 28.9 km from Jersey to France in 6 hours 42 minutes to set record in 2014
* 66 km Round Jersey in Jersey Island, United Kingdom in 9 hours 29 minutes to set record in 2014
* 35 km across the North Channel from Northern Ireland to Scotland in 9 hours 34 minutes to set record in 2013
* 13.1 km in the Pennock Island Challenge in Alaska in 2013
* 20 km across the Santa Barbara Channel from Anacapa Island to mainland in 5 hours 29 minutes to set record in 2013
* 10.2 km double-crossing of the Columbia River Bar in Oregon in 2 hours 38 minutes, an unprecedented swim in 2013
* 7.5 km Columbia River Bar in Oregon in 1 hours 47 minutes in 2013
* nominated for the 2013 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year award
* 33.8 km across the English Channel from England to France in 10 hours 35 minutes in 2012
* 19.7 km across the Tsugaru Channel from Honshu to Hokkaido, Japan in 8 hours 55 minutes to set record in 2012
* EPIC 5 Challenge – 5 Ironman triathlons in 5 days on 5 different Hawaiian islands with Team Nike Relay in Hawaii in 2011
* 14.4 km across the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain to Morocco in 3 hours 39 minutes in 2011
* 17.7 km Portland Bridge Swim in Oregon in 2011
* 13.1 km in the Pennock Island Challenge in Alaska in 2011
* 10 km Karen Gaffney Columbia River Swim and Cruise for Kids in Oregon in 2011
* 42 km Molokai Channel from Molokai Island to Oahu in Hawaii in 14 hours 12 minutes in 2011
* Created the Stillwater 8 Challenge: lake swims in Loch Ness, Windermere, Lake Zurich, Lake Tahoe, Lake Baikal, Lake Taupo, Lake Ontario, Lake Titicaca in 2011
* 29 km across the Cook Strait in New Zealand in 8 hours 2 minutes in 2010
* 23.3 km across the Clarence Strait in Ketchikan, Alaska in 6 hours 46 minutes, an unprecedented swim in 2010
* 17.7 km Portland Bridge Swim in Oregon in 2010
* 13.1 km in the Pennock Island Challenge in Alaska in 2010
* 40.2 km Monterey Bay Relay swim in Santa Cruz, California in 2010
* 115.8 km Kaieiewaho Channel Relay from Oahu to Kauai in Hawaii in 47 hours 55 minutes with Mike Spalding, Linda Kaiser, Joel Schwartz, Randy Brown, Billy Brown in 2010, an unprecedented and unreplicated crossing in 2010
* 120 km Lake Taupo Triple Relay Crossing in Taupo, New Zealand in 33 hours 33 minutes 54 seconds with Barbara Pellick, Penny Palfrey, Julie Bradshaw, Heather Osbourne, and Lucy Roeper in 2009
* 33.8 km across the English Channel from England to France in 11 hours 37 minutes in 2009
* 13.1 km Pennock Island Challenge in Alaska in 2009
* 40.2 km Monterey Bay Relay swim in Santa Cruz, California in 2009
* 45.9 km Manhattan Island Marathon Swim around New York City in 7 hours 55 minutes in 2008
* 12.8 km Boston Light Swim in 2 hours 47 minutes as 1st female in
* 13.1 km Pennock Island Challenge in Alaska in 3 hours 31 minutes in 2008
* 3.2 km Alcatraz Challenge in San Francisco, California in 2008
* 32.3 km across the Catalina Channel from Santa Catalina Island to the mainland in 10 hours 12 minutes in 2008
* 1.5-mile Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim in San Francisco, California in 2007
* 13.1 km Pennock Island Challenge in Alaska in 2007
* 33.8 km across the English Channel from England to France in 10 hours 2 minutes, fastest American for the Channel Swimming Association in 2007
* 8 km Lake Minnetonka Challenge in Minnesota in 2006
* 13.1 km Pennock Island Challenge in Alaska in 2006
Steven Munatones wrote her nomination for the 2013 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year award, “Her love of the sport knows no limits, she serves as support crew as readily as she dives in the water for her own marathon swims. Michelle was the first American and third person overall to achieve the Oceans Seven. The full-time Nike employee takes enough time out of her busy work schedule to become one of the most prolific and accomplished open water swimmers in contemporary times. Without sponsors and without hype, the friendly, thoughtful, seriously-minded swimmer moves about the globe to cross channels and help others in their own quests. For her world record time across the North Channel, for her achievement of the Oceans Seven, for her joyful willingness to crew for other swimmers around the world, Michelle Macy is a worthy nominee for the 2013 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.”
It is well-deservedly so that Macy is now entered into the pantheon of her marathon swimming peers.
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