World Open Water Swimming Woman Of The Year Nominees

You can vote for the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year in a worldwide poll here. The winner will be announced on January 1, 2010.

These awards are not necessarily for the best athlete, but are meant to honor the woman who (1) best embodies the spirit of open water swimming, (2) possesses the sense of adventure, tenacity and perseverance that open water swimmers are known for, and (3) has most positively influenced the world of open water swimming in 2009.

We salute all the nominees who have enjoyed remarkable careers in the sport of open water swimming as athletes, coaches, promoters, race directors and/or administrators. Congratulations to everyone.

The 10 female nominees, listed in alphabetical order, are as follows:

1. Marcia Cleveland (USA), Administrator, Promoter and Coach
2. Lisa Cummins (Ireland), Patience and Persistence Pay Off
3. Natalie du Toit (South Africa), Inspirational Athlete and Spokeswoman
4. Melissa Gorman (Australia), World Champion
5. Angela Maurer (Germany), Professional Swimmer and Mother
6. Mighty Mermaids (USA), Masters Team Extraordinaire
7. Sally Minty-Gravett (Jersey), Teacher, Motivator and Coach
8. Poliana Okimoto (Brazil), World-class Professional
9. Penny Palfrey (Australia), Marathon Swimming Adventurer
10. Keri-Anne Payne (Great Britain), World-class Racer

1. Marcia Cleveland (USA), Administrator, Promoter and Coach

Marcia of Chicago remained a whirlwind of activity and significant influence in the world of open water swimming from distances ranging from 1 mile to the English Channel. Marcia is the long-time Chair of the US Masters Swimming (USMS) Open Water & Long Distance Committee, a member of the USMS History & Archives Committee, and a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, devoting thousands of hours to the continued development of open water swimming. She is the chief administrator for the annual USMS national championship events, including the 1-Mile Open Water Championships, 2-Mile Open Water Championships, 2-Mile Cable Championships, 5 Mile Open Water Championships, 10K Open Water Championships, 1-hour Postal Championships, 5K and 10K Postal Championships, and the 3000/6000 Yard Postal Championships. She also offers coaching and clinics for open water swimmers, many in response to the continued popularity of her authoritative marathon swimming book, Dover Solo: Swimming the English Channel. She continues to navigate innumerable key issues in the sport and for USMS competitions, gives speeches from coast to coast and swims alongside newcomers to increase their comfort levels and ensure their successes. As a mother of two, for her selfless, passionate and unrelenting leadership in the sport, Marcia is nominated as the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.

2. Lisa Cummins (Ireland), Patience and Persistence Pay Off

Lisa is not the fastest English Channel swimmer, but she surely epitomizes the essence of marathon swimming. Not only did Lisa start from scratch as an elite swimmer to become one of only twenty people in the world who have successfully completed a double-crossing of the English Channel, but she also meticulously saved, sacrificed, planned and trained mentally and physically since early 2008 to complete her epic 35 hour 36 minute swim that were followed online by the global open water swimming community. Her humor and focus in face of circumstances that were beyond reasonable were evident as she told her escort crew to not pull her from the cold Channel because she was having such a good time. After reaching land despite facing excruciating pain in her shoulders during the 2-day swim, the 26-year-old college student deservingly became the pride of Ireland. Ever optimistic and impossibly cheerful, Lisa exudes humble confidence and inspires hope among her marathon swimming colleagues and English Channel aspirants. For her incredible endurance, continued persistence and focus beyond belief, Lisa is nominated as the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.

3. Natalie du Toit (South Africa), Inspirational Athlete and Spokeswoman

Although Natalie did not win any world-class marathon swims after her remarkable break-out year in 2008, she continued to work quietly and steadily towards the upper ranks of world-class marathon swimmers, overcoming physical obstacles unknown to her able-bodied competitors. The Olympic flag-bearer of South Africa and subject of a book called Tumble Turn, Natalie competed in the 5K (21st overall) and 10K (38th overall) races at the 2009 World Swimming Championships, professional World Cup marathon swims in Dubai and won local ocean swims such as the cold-water Cadiz Freedom Swim in Cape Town. Natalie’s pleasant personality and gift of time inspires many as she gives innumerable speeches and provides motivation to those with and without disabilities. Her kind smile, gentle demeanor and indomitable inner strength to compete with the world’s best swimmers are truly the elements of a Hollywood movie come true. For her continued courage and triumph over adversity in an unforgiving sport, Natalie is nominated as the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.

4. Melissa Gorman (Australia), World Champion

It took one quick stroke – and years of intense practice – for Melissa to upset the titan of professional marathon swimming. Larisa Ilchenko had not lost a major open water swimming championship – at the Olympics or in a world champion race – in the 21st century. Larisa’s track record of success was unparalleled – until Melissa set a fast pace, withstood a frantic finishing kick and out-touched Larisa in the 5K world championships in Rome this summer. Melissa’s gold medal victory – performed on open water swimming’s most important stage in 2009 – was an upset that shook the foundation of the women’s elite marathon swimming world. A relative newcomer to the sport, 23-year-old Melissa has quickly shot up the ranks among world-class open water swimmers: from 25th at the 2008 world 10K championships in Seville to 15th at the Olympic 10K in Beijing to victory in the 2009 world championships in Italy. The bubbly, vivacious swimmer from Brisbane is also a notable cross-over athlete who represents Australia in the 400-, 800- and 1500-meter events in major international competitions and helps share the open water story among her pool friends and fans. She also won the US$10,000 winner-take-all RCP Tiburon Mile in another close race this year. It is for her focus and tenacity that led to an ushering in of a new era that we nominate Melissa as the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Women of the Year.

5. Angela Maurer (Germany), Professional Swimmer and Mother

Like Olympic sprinter Dara Torres, Olympian Angela continues to be a truly world-class swimmer while not only raising a child, but also being significantly older than her fellow competitors. A year after just missing an Olympic 10K bronze medal by 0.9 seconds, Angela won the 25K world championships in a tough race in Rome after placing fifth in the world championship 10K. She now has won 8 FINA world championship medals. At the age of 35, Angela remains active on the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup and FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix circuits. She finished third at the 10K NYC Pro Swim (USA), third in the Copenhagen (Denmark) World Cup, third in the Lake Annecy (France) World Cup, fourth in the Varna (Bulgaria) World Cup, second in the Setubal (Portugal) World Cup, seventh in the Santos (Brazil) World Cup, third in the Chun An (China) World Cup and second in the 15K Sumidero Canyon (Mexico) Grand Prix. For her unique lifestyle balance between motherhood and remaining on top of the professional marathon swimming world, Angela is nominated for the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.

6. Mighty Mermaids (USA), Masters Team Extraordinaire

The Mighty Mermaids are a group of six American women – all in their 50’s – who are among the most committed and fastest masters marathon swimmers on the planet. The Mighty Mermaids are extremely serious, fit and focused swimmers with a mission to demonstrate that swimming fast and having fun is easily within the realm of women north of the mid-century mark. Christie Plank Ciraulo (55 of Los Angeles), Nancy Steadman Martin (54 of New Jersey), Lisa Bennett (53 of Virginia), Jenny Cook (51 of Los Angeles), Karen Farnsworth Einsidler (53 of New Jersey) and Tracy Grilli (52 of New Hampshire) finished fifth overall in the 2009 Manhattan Island Marathon Swim in 7 hours and 33 minutes after their inaugural swim at the 2008 Trans Tahoe Relay where they were the second-fastest female team and 24th overall. But beating younger teams is not their only goal, they are great ambassadors of health and the sport of open water swimming – making friends, sharing stories and inspiring others from shore-to-shore. Individually, they continue to win open water swims while maintaining a healthy lifestyle balancing family, work and training. It is their mission and track record of success for collectively nominating the Mighty Mermaids as the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Women of the Year.

7. Sally Minty-Gravett (Jersey), Teacher, Motivator and Coach

As the only woman to successfully cross the English Channel in four different decades (1975, 1985, 1992 and 2005), Sally Minty-Gravett promotes and manages the Jersey Long Distance Swimming Club , a fabulously successful marathon swimming team, that is headquartered in the isle of Jersey in the middle of the English Channel. With an energy and enthusiasm second to none, Sally’s reach is both local and global: she teaches swimming to thousands of Jersey residents as well as develops and escorts swimmers with aims at marathon swims around the world. Sally has trained generations of Round Jersey swimmers (66K) and English Channel swimmers with incomparable patience, care, diligence and expertise, including four over the course of one week this August. For her ability to help swimmers achieve goals beyond their initial dreams and her immeasurable influence on individuals who chose to swim in the longest and coldest venues around the world, Sally is nominated as the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.

8. Poliana Okimoto (Brazil), Crème de la Crème Professional Swimmer

The physical presence of the slender and polite Poliana belies her intensity and focus on becoming the best in the world. Poliana travels the world seeking to race the best in all kinds of open water races – from 1-mile invitational swims in Great Britain to professional World Cup races in South America. Poliana, who placed seventh in the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim in Beijing, is only getting faster and better with the experience. She will win the FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup title this year after winning the 10K New York City (USA) World Cup, the Copenhagen (Denmark) World Cup, the Lake Annecy (France) World Cup, the Setubal (Portugal) World Cup and the Chun An (China) World Cup and placing second in the Varna (Bulgaria) World Cup and the Santos (Brazil) World Cup. For her success on the FINA World Cup circuit and her sense of adventure, tenacity and perseverance in exploiting her full potential as a marathon swimmer, Poliana is nominated as the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.

9. Penny Palfrey (Australia), Marathon Swimmer Adventurer

Penny travels the world with her husband, tackling tough marathon swims while maintaining a healthy business at home. In 2009, she became the second person ever to swim the treacherous, shark-infested 70K Alenuihaha Channel from the Big Island of Hawaii to Maui. The gutsy 70K (43 miles) swim took 14 hours and 51 minutes where Penny was tossed about by occasional 6-meter (20-foot) ocean swells where her crew would lose sight of her. She quickly followed up that effort with a 14.5K (8.8-mile) swim across the Maui Channel, together with her husband, from Maui to Lanai, becoming the first women to achieve this feat. She next entered the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim where she placed finished first among women for the third year in a row in 7 hours 17 minutes. Later, she was thwarted in a reverse Manhattan Island swim where she attempted the risky swim against the currents for 28.5 miles around New York. She started off the year participating in the 120K triple-crossing of Lake Taupo, the biggest lake in New Zealand, finishing in 33 hours and 33 minutes with 5 teammates. She also became the first person to swim 64K from Santa Barbara Island to the California mainland in 17 hours and 53 minutes. For her adventurous spirit, her obvious athletic abilities, her fearlessness and willingness to traverse the world in search of marathon swimming feats, Penny is nominated as the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.

10. Keri-Anne Payne (Great Britain), World-class Racer

After winning the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim silver medal, Keri-Anne’s unique racing strategy – always out in the front while pushing the pace – has become her signature style. Her successful track record and growing expectation that she will be the Olympic 10K favorite in London in 2012 has added to the pressure on the young woman’s shoulders – but her steely resolve, training regimen and quiet intensity keep her grounded and focused. Accessible to the media with thoughtful answers explained graciously and profoundly, Keri-Anne has become the face of marathon swimming in Great Britain. She won the prestigious 10K race at the World Swimming Championships in Rome using her well-developed navigational IQ and has raced in several other invitational races and FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup events around the world. For the world champion that she is and for serving as a wonderful ambassador of the sport and her country, Keri-Anne is nominated as the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.

Copyright © 2009 by World Open Water Swimming Association

And The Winner Is...

We are now accepting nominations for the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year. We have covered events, trends, athletes (young, not-so-young, Olympic and not-so-fast), coaches, administrators, race promoters, solo swims and relays in over 50 countries in 2009 and the number of worthy individuals are too numerous to count.

But the world of open water swimming is too large and growing too fast for us to cover everything. Therefore, your suggestions are greatly appreciated.

The purpose of the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year award is to recognize individuals who represent all that is good with open water swimming.

Please email your recommendations to headcoach@10Kswim.com.

As voted by our readers, the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year was Edith van Dijk of the Netherlands who edged out Marcia Cleveland of Chicago, USA. Edith did it all: a mother, an Olympian, a six-time world champion, a top pro marathon swimmer and an English Channel swimmer with a doctorate in economics and a movie credit to boot.

Thank you very much for your assistance.

Inner Thoughts Of An Open Water Swimming Kayaker

Open water swimmers the world over understand and appreciate how important escort boat pilots, kayakers, paddlers and support crew members are.

Without a doubt, solo swims and races could not be safely done without these essential volunteers and experienced personnel.

We interviewed one very experienced kayaker, Richard Clifford, a practicing attorney from New York (shown above), about his thoughts and years of escorting swimmers around the world.

Richard Clifford has kayaked swimmers and relays around New York City, including many top swimmers in the 28.5-mile Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, the 17.5-mile Ederle Swim, several Swim Across America events, the Chicago Shoreline Swim, Catalina Channel solo swims, USA Swimming 25K national championships and across Loch Ness in Scotland.

10Kswimmer: What open water swims and swimmers have you kayaked or paddled for?

Richard: I have paddled since 1993 in swims ranging from local charity swims and triathlons to ultra-distance competitions and races. I am a strong believer in the Swim Across America charity swims. The shorter swim events involve the creation of a moving-line of kayakers, not assigned to individual swimmers.

I have kayaked for many swimmers, including Marcia Cleveland of Winnetka, Illinois, Tammy van Wisse of Melbourne, Australia, Rendy Lynn Opdycke of Mission Viejo, California, John Kenny of Atlantic City, New Jersey, David Blanke of Austin, Texas, Liz Fry of Westport, Connecticut and John van Wisse of Melbourne, Australia. Kayaking for Marcia Cleveland involved swims three times through the night: Manhattan, Catalina and Chicago [in] Lake Michigan. Many swims have been competitions. Some of the swims have been in attempts at breaking or establishing record times.

10Kswimmer: How do you prepare for such events?

John: Picking a swimmer. First, I pick swimmers I like as a person and, second, I look for a good swimmer. After all, we will be spending quite a few grueling hours together. So, I want to know that like them as a person, they are committed to giving their all, and will work together as a team with everyone involved. I also rely heavily on the suggestions and recommendations of other swimmers for whom I have kayaked.

Physical conditioning. I am blessed with good health and good conditioning. So, I do my best to be in good condition through a good life-style. My preparation includes the basics of being in good physical condition on the day of the event. I do that by kayaking and swimming. You will never catch me in a gym, not for anyone. On race day, I do not want to be an issue for my swimmer. I show up on time and ready to undertake and to complete the entire event regardless of the timing or conditions. If they swim, I kayak. When they stop swimming, I stop kayaking.

It is vital to the swimmer that the kayaker undertaking this effort is capable of completing all tasks throughout the day. For me, that always has included the course, feedings, and moral support.

Knowledge of the local waters. If I am in new territory (like Lake Michigan or Catalina), I look for a strong, local paddler. If you go to Catalina, then you make sure you ask Carol Sing and look for those great paddlers out of San Diego: Kevin Eserling, Rich Henry and friends. In Chicago, truly there is no one better than Tom Heineman. Never be too proud to seek help and knowledge.

Charts. I prepare for all events by reviewing charts for the swim course. A chart is a map on the water. A current chart will tell the crew the channels, water depths, and any marine information. Water depths will help the crew understand and appreciate the flow of water on the tide cycle. This is particularly significant with a river swim. It is not significant for a lake swim as there are no tides. The tide either will be an ebb or a flood. And, water moves through the deepest channels. having a notion where that is may mean the difference between finishing first or watching another someone swim away from you.

Discussions with the swimmer. It is vital to review and thoroughly with the swimmer and crew the event, the course, any limitations, restrictions or conditions, strategy and tactics, and good sportsmanship includes respecting the field of competition and the crew. Going blind into an endurance, distance swim of 25+ miles is just what it sounds like. It is not enough to just show up.

And, one last time I check all of my gear to collect what I need and remove the junk. One must be prepared for the weather and events we encounter, not the ones we hope to have. I will pack a rain jacket on a sunny, smoking hot day beforehand, or apply sun screen (in the dark), or take a Capilene shirt for a night paddle.

Finally, if one is a swimmer or kayaker preparing for a swim in unfamiliar territory or range then look for the experienced hand and ask for guidance. Several people are mentioned through-out this account who are great assets to the swimming community. Do not be so proud to think that asking for information and guidance is a weakness.

10Kswimmer: What do you take on your kayak for the open water swims, in terms of food and equipment?

Richard: I follow this advice, "Keep it simple; as simple as possible, but no simpler." by Albert Einstein.

First, my gear is focused on my safety. I have two carbon fiber paddles. Light and strong. Also, a good motivator for a swimmer who needs a poke on the very rare occasion. Always wear a PFD, personal flotation device (life-jacket). Always make certain your kayaker is wearing one. Hat, sun glasses, bailer scoop. VHF marine radio. This allows the kayaker to communicate with or to monitor radio traffic on the crew power boat(s) or the race/event officials. Water-proof chart (on the kayak deck). GPS unit. This varies in importance, but is very helpful for long, night swims like Chicago and Catalina. It is not so important as equipment, other than for speed and distance measurements, where the swim is being escorted by a larger vessel.

Second, I carry the feeding supplies and the equipment that the swimmer gives me. For example, on Manhattan swims, I will feed the swimmer directly from the kayak every 20 minutes. I will get re-supplied from the crew aboard the power boat, but I carry for several enough for several feedings. I set up for the feedings and inform them by hand signals in advance of the feeding(s). The swimmer only need swim into the feeding cup, roll over, feed, toss the cup toward me, roll back and continue swimming. This takes merely seconds. At some feedings the swimmer will indicate: "Tylenol at next feeding" or a particular food they want such as "GU." And, I will remind them to pee as needed.

Third, personally, I do not each much during the swims. I drink a cut-down mix of clear Powerade or Gatorade. I will eat bananas or some "power" bars. Eat well beforehand and have the stored energy works better for me.

10Kswimmer: What are the things that you do during a marathon swim?

Richard: I maintain the best course for the athlete. I look at the athlete's position in terms of other competitors, monitor the well-being of the athlete and inform the support boat if the athlete seems to be in distress.

I spend a great deal of effort and time concerned with my boat position. I will be in constant communication with the support crew where there are important maritime issues such as oncoming boat traffic, debris int he water, instructions coming in from race officials, etc.. My kayak position is important: (a) lining up on my course, and (b) staying alongside the swimmer, not ahead, nor behind.

Sometimes a kayaker has the advantage of having previously worked with, and spoken to, the swimmer. Sometimes, not so much. Ideally, the kayaker is supposed to be on course. If the swimmer starts crowding the kayak, then they will recall from our pre-event discussions that means they are coming off of a line. If they noticed a gap widening between them and the kayak then that will indicate to the swimmer that they are veering again.

I also inform the swimmer by hand signals (a) to move closer or away and out from the kayak, and (b) in advance when their feedings will occur. Also, I will raise a bottle (e.g., Tylenol) or food object (e.g. GU or banana) well-in-advance of a feeding to learn if they want/need any. I review this with new swimmers before an event. The ones with whom I've paddled and/or prepared let me know in their own manner if it is a 'yes' or 'no' for anything. Some give a shout-out, some [give] a wave while swimming.

I look at and watch the swimmer. I do not count strokes. Easy enough, but I leave that to the crew aboard the boat. They will write it on a board in large letters for the swimmer to see. And, they should be entering this info into the swimmer's log for the swimmer, crew and race officials to review afterward. It is too much of a distraction for me to be doing my role in the kayak and looking at a watch. And, swimmers cannot hear a thing during many of these swims. They do not need someone in a kayak shouting at them, particularly not a stroke count. I do watch the swimmer carefully to discern if they have a stroke issue or early signs for the onset of hypothermia.

10Kswimmer: How do you keep your athlete motivated and safe during marathon swims?

Richard: Motivation and safety are hugely distinct issues.

Beforehand, I like to have an extensive discussion with the athlete to see what their goals of the event are. I also like to find out what and where their strengths and weaknesses are, where and when I can push them, and what are their breaking points. A lot of the time, I just smile and nod at the athlete if they are
fine. To keep them safe, I'm always looking a few meters ahead of our position in case there is anything interesting in the water to avoid.

I suppose it is always fitting to hit the motivational point with my swimmer(s) before an event, quoting Leonidas, the Spartan King who died fighting against the Persians in the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. "Remember this day men, for it will be yours for all time."

Morty Berger, the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim race director, told me some time back that a good long-distance swimmer is a very patient person. I have come to understand and to appreciate this over the years. They train very hard, often alone or in the dark. There is an inner drive and a goal they must have. By event day, they must have their own motivation and drive.

Family and friends often call the crew aboard the power boat during an event. All night long. So, the boat crew passes through messages of support and well-wishing to me in the kayak. I pass it along to the swimmer(s) at the feedings. Don't underestimate the importance of hearing from those folks, including sometimes a message that they are heading off to bed.

There are times during an event where the swimmer starts slipping out of gear. They begin to lose their focus or get dis-spirited with the way an event is going. I am reluctant to yell at a swimmer. The swimmer needs a kayaker there to calm them, to assure them and to do their own job. Not to be out there losing control. Sometimes one needs to be emphatic. I can be emphatic.

It is very important to discuss the swim in advance. And, I will discuss the entire race course strategy in advance. All 28.5 miles. I want the swimmer to call it up from rote memory and put it into play in the water. One device for motivation is to set up against a 2-, 4- or 6-person relay and use each new swimmer to challenge yourself. A 6-person relay is not for the faint of heart. Also, in the Hudson River the line of site is much easier than the preceding rivers. It is easy to see the swimmers who are ahead. I have my swimmer set limited goals for limited and quicker successes from Spyten Dyvil to the finish. There is plenty of swimming left to do in the Hudson River. Pick off one swimmer at a time. Re-set, go after the next swimmer. Repeat to finish.

I also stress one point to the swimmer based on experience. "Swim the entire race. Don't worry about position." The first swimmer to finish is the winner. It does not go to the favorite, nor to the person ahead all day, not even to the best swimmer. Manhattan is a tactical race. Swimmers frequently will pick off 5-10 swimmers and relays in the Hudson, or the opposite.

One year, Rendy Opdycke was suffering from having planned poorly on her feeding source. By the Broadway Bridge in the Harlem River she had 13 swimmers and relays ahead of her before she even got to the Hudson River. She stopped up near the rock with the Columbia "C" and she lost everything inside her. It was not pretty. So, I asked, are you finished? Should I call over the escort boat? Or, do you still have your head in this swim? She said "yes" she was good to continue. So, for the remainder of her swim, I fed her clear Powerade and GU. She finished second as the first woman. She passed all those others in the Hudson. The next trip we took, her suit strap broke or was scraping her shoulders, after merely 400 yards. So, she rolled it down and inside and swam the day topless. She did well, and was first woman to finish.

10Kswimmer: Have you ever had any close calls?

Richard: There are two things that come to mind when we discuss close calls: a close finish or a hazard.

Close finishes. One body length, 3 seconds qualifies as close especially after 28.5 miles. This one takes the cake. In 2000, John van Wisse was be-deviled by Bronwen Whitehead, another Aussie swimmer. She out-swam him all day. At the end it was just the two of them in a match swim race with 400 yards to go. At the last 100 yards, they took different courses to the finish line. John swam around Bronwen and won by merely a body length. Great swim, great swimmers, but the victory goes to the first to touch. 3 seconds, one body length.

Safety hazards. I would say that the early detection of hypothermia onset is the single greatest thing any kayaker may do for a swimmer. Danger avoided. In the 2008 Ederle swim the event was taking place late in the season. The water had cooled down significantly. I watched my swimmer, David Blanke, carefully through the morning. He was not completely processing his feedings. His metabolism was not kicking out the calories he needed to swim and to stay warm. His stroke, always perfect, was going off. Crossing waves were bothering him for the first time I had seen. And, he started asking me questions. Never good. I realized that his mind was slipping out of the swim.

So, in second place and after 12 miles of a 19-mile swim, I made a decision to have him pulled. I hated doing that. But, the alternative was worse. I have a 200 lb. swimmer in the water covered in Vaseline or grease and out-of-gas. On the boat, I have his wife and another woman as crew and a boat captain who would not win any Heart Association awards for fitness. Within minutes of being pulled and along the entire way back to Manhattan he shivered and was shaking uncontrollably as they warmed him.

Otherwise, I am a total believer in preparation and planning. I do NOT like close calls. I do NOT like having discussions with swimmers during an event. And the notion that any swim should be an adventure is total foolishness.

10Kswimmer: In a close race, what can you do specifically for your athlete?

Richard: Yell! Sure, I yell, but doing my job right down to the finish is very important for the swimmer. They need clarity. They need constancy. "Constancy is the foundation of virtues," said Francis Bacon They do not need Tentative Tim in the kayak. Make a well-informed decision. No pausing, no hesitation. Be prepared in advance; adapt to the situation on the water. Get the best course. Lead them to the finish. Get everyone home safely. One always may return the following year to compete.

I help them maintain their rhythm and their mental toughness. I keep them on the best course line which may not always be the logical straight one.

One year, John van Wisse won by 3 seconds, merely one body length. Another year, I was screaming at Rendy Opdycke (she really couldn't hear a thing) and wildly pointing to go left near the finish at South Cove in Battery Park. She looked up to see the Battery Park Wall staring at her, paused and stared at me with a look like I was crazy. But, only for a fraction of a second. She turned and swam, apparently for her thinking, right into the seawall. The current was ebbing at a roaring 3-4 knots. Just when she thought she would hit the wall, she popped right into the finish line. Any delay and she would have been swept beyond the finish and had to swim back in the South Cove bay area.

10Kswimmer: Why do you enjoy kayaking?

Richard: I love being around athletes who are totally dedicated to their event. I feel inspired being a part of their efforts.

I also enjoy sea-kayaking in the winter in these parts. It gives me an opportunity to see the many migratory sea-birds and mammals that we miss on land and in our busy work lives.

Lastly, sea-kayaking came into my life in the early 1990's. It changed the course of my life and in a way saved me from a particularly dark and angry time.

10Kswimmer: Who, in your opinion, would be someone who you would like to kayak for, but have not yet had the opportunity?

Richard: I always regret having missed the era of Shelley Taylor-Smith. We overlapped one year. She was great swimmer and great for the Manhattan swims. And, she has been one of the strongest proponents for the 10K open water swimming event in the Olympics. I would have loved to kayak for her.

Lynne Smith of Austin, Texas is the only one person I have asked to come to New York to swim Manhattan and to please include me as her kayaker: request pending! Look at recent her results at the US Masters Swimming Championships in Clovis, California. For the moment, she is holding out as a sprinter. She is truly a distance swimmer, who had her moment sprinting. I want to kayak for her because, before any other reason, I like her as a person. That comes before anyone's swimming abilities.

No disrespect to John van Wisse, but I prefer to kayak for female swimmers. My theory from the years - they integrate the notion of "team" better than males. Guys get way too testosterone driven for many of these events. Female swimmers consider tasking, roles, responsibilities and goals much better. Muscling your way through a 28-mile swim or one in the dark is a formula for failure.

And, I am quite certain that Marcia Cleveland, Chair of the USMS Open Water Swim Committee, and good friend, will have me kayaking for more swims with her and other friends in the future.

10Kswimmer: Do you have any advice for a newcomer who would like to get into kayaking for marathon swimmers?

Richard: Work with an athlete in a few training sessions before getting into a race. Or, in a race, take an athlete who is less competitive and willing to work with a novice. Also, communicate with the athlete before, during and after so you both know what works and what needs to be improved upon.

Take your time before you volunteer. Climb the ladder of involvement. Ultimately appreciate just how important a role you have on the water. The swimmer has trained hard and long, and looked forward to the event, believing that they will be able to finish it. It is your responsibility to be pro-active on the water. A kayaker should not be passive. You are there as part of their crew in a race or among many kayakers, but you are there for the safety of your swimmer and all swimmers.

Make sure that you go to all pre-event meetings to inform kayakers and other crew of the event rules, timing, conditions, cautions or limitations. Do not skip these meetings no matter how experienced you believe yourself to be. An uniformed kayaker is not going to be able to help the swimmer if they screw up the rules set down by the U.S. Coast Guard (during the Ederle swims) and/or New York City Marine Police units (during the Manhattan swims). These meetings are not for the self-aggrandizement of race officials. They are an important part of every swim.

Make sure you have any and all necessary gear appropriate for the swim. A kayaker need not carry a light for a swim taking place at 8 am. Everyone will be mocking you as gadget boy. Or, maybe they will let you sleep through the finish.

Don't step out of your role as kayaker to do silly things. One swim, in the dark, we had a "kayaker" who sat back in his boat to tie and untie knots. He did this as he drifted back away from the swimmers and escort boat on the Pacific Ocean in the middle of a moonless, cloud-covered night. It was a huge distraction for everyone, swimmers and crew. So, don't become the safety issue.

Make sure that when you undertake the event that you are prepared to finish the entire event. If you have limitations of any kind then you must inform the swimmer, race officials and others in advance. If you must drive your kids to a dance or a soccer game then let people know that. If one is diabetic, then let people know that. Many years back early on in a Manhattan Island swim race, we all watched in horror as the kayaker pulled up merely 90 minutes into the event to take a break to eat and pee. Hello, what is the swimmer supposed to do while you on a break? None of this means you would not be able to participate. It simple allows race officials to ask you to the proper role.

Just like working in a restaurant. Go to an event when you are ready and trail an experienced kayaker or swimmer. Pay attention. Look at the gear. Look at what they do, don't do, what they say how they communicate. And, ask a million questions afterward. But, be invisible during the event for your learning curve.

10Kswimmer: Do you have any advice for race directors and other safety personnel from a kayaker's perspective?

Richard: "Nothing on earth is so weak and yielding as water, but for breaking down the firm and strong it has no equal," said Lao-Tzu, Tao Te Ching

Swims are not static events. We cannot pull out last year's rules and organizational chart and simply replace the dates and times. Pre-race meetings are important.

Even experienced kayakers must be engaged in the pre-event process. Do not rely on a kayaker's resume that he or she will still be an asset.

Less experienced kayakers should be paired to observe, trail and be-quiet during the event. Afterwards they better have 8 hours worth of questions. This is the best way to prepare for future swims. I did it when I started by peppering Shelley Taylor-Smith with questions about her swims and crews and course.

There should be a continuing effort to strengthen the fabric of the open water swimming community, for example the USA Swimming On-Line Testing Sub-committee. This is needed to occur on multiple levels. Race directors should be talking about their events, not as competition with their own, but as an asset for the pool of knowledge.

Lastly, do not underestimate the risks and dangers involved every time a swimmer slips into the water with the entire train of officials and crew around them. It is vital for everyone's safety to listen to yes men. "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions" (Karl Marx), or with bad assumptions (Richard Clifford). Race directors should not assume that every swim will be completed without injury or death. They should challenge themselves constantly with what-if's so that if something happens the outcome may seem miraculous, but the well-informed will say that was the result of preparation and training.

When everyone is tucked away after the award ceremony, a safe event is a great event.

Copyright © 2009 by World Open Water Swimming Association

Dover Solo Book Signing

Renowned Marcia Cleveland, author of Dover Solo: Swimming the English Channel will have a book signing and discussion on May 7 in Winnetka, Illinois at The Book Stall at Chestnut Court.

Wine, dessert and high-endurance foods will be served.

Swimming Upstate in Louisiana

The Upstate Louisiana Open Water Clinic & Swim in Louisiana, organized by Bill Cleveland (shown on left onshore), will highlight two well-known open water stars - one specialist in FINA 5K and 10K swims and another specializing in marathon and channel swims.




Kirsten Groome, one of USA Swimming's brightest open water stars, and Marcia Cleveland, one of the leaders and influence-makers of the sport, will headline an open water clinic before the May 31st competition in Stonewall, Louisiana that will feature 1K (0.6 miles), 2K (1.2 miles), 3K (1.8 miles) and 5K (3.1 miles) races.

Kirsten (shown on left) won the 2008 USA Swimming national 10K championships and a 2007 FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup in Canada and competed in the 2006 and 2008 World Swimming Championships.

Marcia Cleveland is an open water swimming author, speaker and administrator based on her years of success as an English Channel, Manhattan Island and Lake Michigan swimmer.

Marcia and Kirsten will headline the all-day clinic both at a local pool where swimmers will be video-taped underwater and at Fox Glen Lake where swimmers will be taught a variety of breathing, turns, sighting, water entry/exit and pack swimming techniques.

The open water clinic will take place in the same location - Fox Glen Lake - as the race. The water temperature is expected to be 78° - 82°F.

Edith van Dijk, World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year

Thank you very much for voting for the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year and the World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year. Your participation was greatly appreciated.

The purpose of the poll was to recognize all the nominees who, in turn, represent all that is good with open water swimming and its enthusiasts.

The nominees from 11 countries (America, Australia, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa and the U.K.) ranged from world-class teenage swimmers to administrators who have guided the sport for decades.

As voted by our readers, the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year is Edith van Dijk of the Netherlands who edged out Marcia Cleveland of Chicago.




Like a classic 25K race, the two women were always among the leaders from the start. They remained a great pace throughout the polling period and were neck-and-neck week-in and week-out. Towards the end, voters enabled Edith to cap off the Olympic year with a closing surge, just as she has done so many times throughout her athletic career at major international competitions.

Edith van Dijk has done it all: a mother (shown with her daughter and a competitor above), an Olympian, a six-time world champion, a top pro marathon swimmer, a competitive pool swimmer and an English Channel swimmer with a doctorate in economics and a movie credit to boot.

As she announced her retirement at the 2008 European Open Water Swimming Championships, the sport will miss this woman of stature and remarkable abilities.

Congratulations, Edith. The global open water swimming community salutes you and your fellow nominees.

A Community Organizer from Chicago

For years, Chicagoan Marcia Cleveland has been working tirelessly in the open water community, helping thousands of open water swimmers achieve their goals. She coaches swimmers, gives clinics, writes books and constantly shares her passion with everyone from newcomers in the U.S. Masters Swimming community to those who wish to cross the English Channel.



In July this year, Marcia did a 24.9-mile solo swim in 12 hours and 49 minutes with David Blanke and Chris Layton swam from one of Chicago to the other, from north to south in Lake Michigan. Their Chicago Skyline Swim was similar to the 27-mile course swum by English Channel swimming legend Kevin Murphy in 2002 and the Nial Funchion in 2003.

Their Chicago Skyline Swim is being nominated for a Certificate of Merit by the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.*

Like every experienced open water swimmer, Marcia’s solo successes are based on her training, her ambition and her experience. The hardest swim Marcia ever did was her 1993 English Channel qualification swim in Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire on a beautiful, sunny day. Marcia describes her qualification swim that day in the 15.5°C (60°F), "Marcy MacDonald and I swam 10 miles from one end of the lake to the other and back. She was ready for the water temperature, I was not. I felt completely defeated around 6-7 hours and realized how difficult it is to qualify to swim the English Channel. I was really low after about 5 hours in that swim because I was out of control cold-wise in something that had always come naturally to me (swimming)."

But, out of the depths of despair of that qualification swim, Marcia rose to the occasion and successfully crossed the English Channel in 1994. She wrote a popular book, Dover Solo, about her experiences.

In August, Marcia was also instrumental in organizing and hosting the first U.S. Masters Swimming 25K National Championship where 45 masters swimmers took part (see photo of start on left). The feedback from the swimmers was extremely positive, "...the Inaugural 25K Open Water Nationals held outside of Indianapolis…was an absolutely superbly organized and unforgettable event. The race director, Dick Sidner, went to extremes to make sure that every detail of the experience was just perfect, and he was ably assisted by…Marcia Cleveland, and others. The race was very safe. The field was incredibly strong. The kayakers did a great job. When I finished the race I hugged Marcia Cleveland…and I wanted to hug everyone else who made this event so memorable," expressed Jon Lenchner.

For her enthusiasm for the sport and her unwavering willingness to help others achieve their own goals, Marcia was nominated for the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.

Photo of 25K start from the Forest Park Aquatic Center website.

* For more information on how to apply for a Certificate of Merit by the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, click here and scroll down to the bottom.

2008 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year

The World Open Water Swimming Association will conduct a poll to select the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year and the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year on January 1, 2009. These awards will be based on the poll posted here (to the left) at Open Water Source.

These awards are not necessarily for the best athlete, but are meant to honor the man and woman who (1) best embody the spirit of open water swimming, (2) possess the sense of adventure, tenacity and perseverance that open water swimmers are known for, and (3) have most positively influenced the world of open water swimming in 2008.

The top vote-getters in each region will also be honored as the 2008 Asia/Oceania Open Water Swimming Person of the Year, the 2008 European Open Water Swimming Person of the Year and the 2008 Americas Open Water Swimming Person of the Year.

You can vote for two athletes: one male and one female.

While all these individuals have enjoyed remarkable careers in the sport of open water swimming as athletes, coaches, promoters, writers, directors and/or administrators, please vote your choice based on their achievements during 2008.

The 11 female nominees, listed in alphabetical order, are as follows:

1. Marcia Cleveland (USA), Administrator, Promoter and Coach:

Marcia is the long-time Chair of the US Masters Swimming (USMS) Open Water & Long Distance Committee, a member of the USMS History & Archives Committee, and a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, devoting thousands of hours in 2008 to developing the sport of open water swimming. She is the chief administrator for the annual USMS national championship events, including the 1 Mile Open Water Championships,
2 Mile Open Water Championships, 2-Mile Cable Championships, 5K Mile Open Water Championships, 10K Open Water Championships, 25K Open Water Championships, 1-hour Postal Championships, 5K and 10K Postal Championships, and the 3000/6000 Yard Postal Championships. She also offers coaching and clinics for open water swimmers, many in response to the publication of the second edition of her popular book, Dover Solo: Swimming the English Channel book. She navigated innumerable key issues in the sport during 2008 including the use of wetsuits and high-tech swim suits in USMS competitions. As married mother of two, she also made time to complete an unprecedented 12 hour and 49 minute 40K (25-mile) Chicago Skyline Swim.

2. Natalie du Toit (South Africa), Inspirational Athlete and Spokeswoman:

Natalie deservedly gained global fame when she became the first amputee to qualify for an Olympic final among able-bodied athletes. Despite an admittedly disappointing 16th-place finish in the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim, she captured the hearts of fans around the world in 2008. She carried the flag for South Africa at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2008 Paralympics and was the feature of touching tributes from the U.S. (by NBC) to South Africa (SuperSport and ESPN Africa) to Japan (Fuji TV). She was fourth in the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Championships in the 10K marathon swim that served as the pressure-packed Olympic qualification race. Selected as one of the Top 100 Athletes to Watch by Time Magazine, she also spent innumerable hours giving speeches and providing motivation to many, never complaining or making excuses for her disability while smiling and sharing good times with her teammates, competitors and fans.
[Photo by The Rapport]

3. Jennifer Figge (USA), Atlantic Ocean Adventurer:

A 56-year-old gregarious mother training for a 2,100 solo swim odyssey across the Atlantic Ocean is unprecedented. Her remarkable confidence in herself convinced a pilot and his crew to spend over two months at sea and a land-based support team to assist her. Jennifer starts on December 1 and, although she will not be finished within calendar year 2008, her audacity to even attempt a solo swim from the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of Africa to Barbados is worthy of attention and wonder. Throughout the months of December and January, and possibly into February, she will be swimming 6-8 hours per day in a shark cage and then resting on her escort boat that will float as the currents allow. The distance and time swum will be carefully logged and monitored by GPS online for all to see. Whether or not she completes her goal, the extreme nature of her marathon swim requires tremendous guts just to start and head off swimming to another continent.

4. Larisa Ilchenko (Russia), Olympic Champion:

Larisa completely dominated the world of open water swimming and every event she participated in 2008. Her aggressive racing strategy culminated in an exciting come-from-behind victory in the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim at the Beijing Olympics. In addition to her Olympic gold-medal performance, Larisa won the European Open Water Swimming Championships in the 10K and FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup races in Singapore, Hong Kong, Cancun (Mexico) and Santos (Brazil). No matter what the venue, competition or conditions, Larisa comes through at the end with her classic trademark finish. Her dominance as an athlete can be compared to many greats in other eras and in other sports, from Steffi Graf in tennis to Nadia Comaneci in gymnastics.
[Photo by Pei Qingsheng]

5. Britta Kamrau (Germany), Professional Swimmer:

Britta shockingly did not qualify for the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim in early 2008, but like a true competitor, she came back from that loss. She went on to win the 15K Sumidero Canyon Swimming Marathon (Mexico) FINA Grand Prix and the $10,000 winner-take-all RCP Tiburon Mile, the world’s richest pro race. Britta also finished 2nd in the 32K Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean (Canada) FINA Grand Prix, 3rd in the 19K Sabac Swim Marathon (Serbia) FINA Grand Prix, 3rd in the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Cancun (Mexico), and competed in FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cups in Hong Kong and Shantou (China) and the 36K Marathon Del Golfo Capri-Napoli (Italy) FINA Grand Prix. She also captured a silver in the 5K individual, bronze in the 5K team trial and silver in the 25K races at the European Open Water Swimming Championships in Croatia. A versatile competitor who can swim well in both cold and warm water conditions, Britta continues to represent her sport in a professional manner.

6. Angela Maurer (Germany), Professional Swimmer and Mother:

After retiring and giving birth to her first child, Angela learned that open water swimming was added to the Olympics. Determined to represent her country, Angela began a comeback and finished a remarkable fourth, only 0.9 seconds from a bronze, in the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim. In a sport dominated by teenagers, Angela won the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup in Lac St-Jean, finished 2nd at the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cups in Cancun (Mexico) and Setubal (Portugal), and finished 3rd at the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cups in Singapore and Shantou (China). Incredibly, after focusing on the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim, Angela continued to travel the world and won the overall FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup series at the age of 34.

7. Sandy Neilson-Bell (USA), Race Director and Promoter:

Together with her renowned husband Dr. Keith Bell, Sandy co-developed the very successful and innovative open water swimming events of the American Swimming Association. The races in 2008 included the Money Box Cap 2K, the 12-mile Lake Travis Relay, the Open Water Texas High School State Championships, Volente Beach Open Water Family Gala, Highland Lakes Challenge, Dam 5K, ASA Open Water Collegiate National Championships, Quarries Open Water Festival and the Polar Bear Swim. The 1972 Olympic triple gold medal sprinter made a comeback in the 1980’s by getting re-invigorated with open water training and competitions. Channeling this energy in race creation, promotion and management, Sandy and her long-distance loving husband jumped into open water swimming with a fresh perspective, a deep love of the sport and heartfelt concern for athletes, offering an open water swimming oasis among the rolling hill country of Texas.

8. Penny Palfrey (Australia), Marathon Swimming Adventurer:

A 46-year-old dynamo and a small business owner, Penny had a tremendous year in 2008 starting off with a 3rd in the 19K Rottnest Channel Swim in western Australia only a few months after a major operation. She continued to build strength and won the 39K (24 miles) Tampa Bay Marathon Swim in Florida, only 10 minutes slower than the overall record held by a man. In July, after yet another round-trip to her home in Australia, Penny returned to defend her title at the 48K (28.5 miles) Manhattan Island Marathon Swim where she got 2nd overall as the first woman. Later, she became the first person to swim 45K (24 nautical miles) across the shark-infested Santa Barbara Channel from San Miguel Island to the California mainland, taking 11 hours and 29 minutes to fight against stiff winds and cold water. For good measure and together with her husband Chris, Penny also completed an unprecedented 10K swim in the often rough channel between the islands of Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz way off the California coast. Given the number of air miles required to do these swims and her versatility to swim well in both warm and cold water and in the roughest conditions possible, Penny is the epitome of a great marathon swimmer totally committed to the sport.

9. Shelley Taylor-Smith (Australia), Passionate Promoter and Global Administrator:

2008 was the year that culminated in Shelley’s three-decade dream to bring open water swimming to the Olympics. As the Honorary Secretary of the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee, Shelley was instrumental in planning and pulling off the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim. With attention to detail and a passion characteristic of a seven-time world marathon swimming champion, Shelley traveled the world to plan, promote and oversee the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim. In addition, Shelley participated in the 19K Rottnest Channel Swim and the Eco West Coast 1000 as a swimmer. As a FINA representative, she participated in the FINA Extraordinary Congress in the U.K. to review and approve FINA open water swimming rules, the FINA Referees and Officials Clinic in Indonesia, the World Open Water Swimming Championships in Spain and the Olympic 10K Qualification Swim in Beijing, the FINA Referees and Open Water Swimming Clinic in China, the FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cups in Hong Kong and Singapore, the Asian Beach Games in Indonesia. As a tribute to all her efforts in 2008 and throughout her career, Shelley was honored by the International Swimming Hall of Fame for achievements in marathon swimming and received the Davids-Wheeler Award for contributions to the sport of marathon swimming.

10. Edith van Dijk (Netherlands), Open Water Swimming Legend:

Based on her remarkable career as multiple world champion in the 10K and 25K distances, expectations were high for Edith in 2008 when she came back from retirement after giving birth to her daughter. Ever gracious with her time and courtly in her demeanor, Edith started her comeback at the 57K Maraton Acuatica Rio Coronda FINA Grand Prix (Argentina) where she got second in 8 hours and 29 minutes. She followed up this valient comeback by qualifying for the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim and taking silver in the 25K at the 2008 World Open Water Swimming Championships. After finishing 14th in at the Olympics, Edith placed 4th in the 5K, 4th in the 10K (only 3.1 seconds behind Larisa Ilchenko) and tied for 4th in the 25K at the European Open Water Swimming Championships as a testament to her versatility and passion for the sport. As she announced her retirement after the European championships, the sport will miss this woman of stature and remarkable abilities.

11. Zhang “Vivien” Liang (China), Beijing Olympic Volunteer Extraordinaire:

Vivien was everywhere before, during and after the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim in Beijing. The amazingly patient and professional bilingual interpreter tirelessly kept the FINA delegation, ambitious athletes from 28 countries, anxious coaches, impatient administrators and high-strung media representatives up-to-date and informed about the Olympic 10K Qualification Swim in June and the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim during the Beijing Olympics. With very little room for error, Vivien had to balance the expectations of the open water swimming community with the needs of the world’s media, Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee executives and the International Olympic Committee members. Her translation skills and disarming smile went a long way in resolving issues to everyone’s satisfaction and making everyone feel the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim was an outstanding event.
[Photo of Vivien with the FINA President Mustapha Larfaoui]

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association