Open Water Swimming Hero Of The Day

Tom Blower of Great Britain was inducted in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 1964 as an Honour Swimmer.

In 1947, Blower, whose nickname was Torpedo Tom, became the first man to swim the Irish Channel from Donghadee, Ireland to Portpatrich, Scotland in 15 hours 31 minutes. He was also the Morcambe Cross Bay Championship winner in 1935, 1936, 1937 and 1938.

Blower also made three successful English Channel crossings. In 1937, he swam from Cape Griz Nez, France to Abbots Cliff, England in 13 hours 31 minutes. In 1948, he swam from Archcliffe Beach, making him second person to swim the English Channel both ways in 15 hours 26 minutes and was thereafter nicknamed 'Torpedo Tom'. In 1951, he swam the first leg of an abandoned double-crossing in 18 hours 42 minutes.

Photo from the BBC.

Copyright © 2009 by World Open Water Swimming Association