Past, Present and Future of USA Open Water

At the annual USA Swimming and US Masters Swimming conventions in Atlanta this week, important meetings on the future of open water swimming were held.

The USA Swimming open water meetings were chaired by USA Swimming General Manager and Olympic Swim Team coach Mark Schubert. Others in attendance included Dale Neuburger, Vice President of FINA and president of the United States Aquatic Sports Federation, Jim Wood, president of USA Swimming, Olympic open water swimming coaches Bill Rose and John Dussliere, Paul Asmuth, the dominant pro marathon swimmer in the 1980's, Sid Cassidy, chairman of the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee, John Leonard, Executive Director of the American Swimming Coaches Association, Mike Unger, Assistant Executive Director of USA Swimming, Catherine Vogt, newly appointed USC swim coach and ex-coach of world 10K champion Chip Peterson, Dale Petranech, chairman of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, Greg Eggert, USA Swimming Ambassador, professional marathon swimmer Erica Rose, Michael Lawrence, member of the USA Swimming Board of Directors, John Kinney, a registered FINA open water swimming official, numerous USA Swimming staff including Dave Thomas and Russell Mark, Steven Munatones, creator of 10K Swim and numerous interested open water swimming coaches, managers, officials and administrators were in attendance.

The open water and long distance swimming meetings at US Masters Swimming were chaired by Marcia Cleveland.

Note: The USA Swimming and US Masters Swimming conventions are part of the annual USA Aquatic Sports convention. USA Aquatic Sports represents USA Swimming, US Masters Swimming, USA Diving, USA Water Polo and USA Synchronized Swimming to FINA.

Photo of Lac St-Jean professional marathon swim by Dr. Jim Miller, past president of US Masters Swimming and USA Swimming National Open Water Team physician.