tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post2336427396508261605..comments2024-03-23T03:30:09.590-07:00Comments on The Daily News of Open Water Swimming: Fastest or First?Steven Munatoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11024264870051991154noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-9210286646333201052009-01-05T09:24:00.000-08:002009-01-05T09:24:00.000-08:00Gertrude Ederle wasn't simply the first female to ...Gertrude Ederle wasn't simply the first female to swim the English Channel.<BR/><BR/>She was the first person, of either gender, to swim the Channel freestyle. Previous swimmers were breaststrokers.<BR/><BR/>Ederle proved that freestyle could be used for "marathon" swims.<BR/><BR/>It was a truly transformative swim, and it was the swim which created the sport of open water swimming, as we now know it.<BR/><BR/>Hands down, it's the greatest moment in open water swimming history.<BR/><BR/>- Larry Weisenthal/Huntington Beach, CAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com