Big Blue at The Global Open Water Swimming Conference L.A

Big Blue at The Global Open Water Swimming Conference L.A

The Big Blue’s Lisa spoke at the Global Open Water Swimming Conference in Long Beach, California on September 21st.

The Global Open Water Swimming Conference was part of a three-day open water swimming extravaganza consisting of 2 award ceremonies, book signings, inspirational and educational presentations by luminaries of the sport, and open water swims that replicate the Olympic Games triathlon swim leg and the marathon swim course.

The Conference kicked-off with a Welcome Reception and film screening on Friday, September 21 from 6-8 pm on the Queen Mary and continued on Saturday, September 22 on The Queen Mary, moored in Long Beach. Open water swimming heroes and heroines from 19 countries provided dozens of inspirational and educational presentations at the Conference.

Open water swimming luminaries and athletes of every ability gathered in Long Beach, California on the Queen Mary to participate in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, for those swimmers and luminaries who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of open water swimming.

The International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame ceremony honored the following individuals and organizations:

• Larisa Ilchenko (Russia), 2008 Olympic 10K Marathon Swim Gold Medalist
• Maarten van der Weijden (Netherlands), 2008 Olympic 10K Marathon Swim Gold Medalist & leukemia survivor
• Sri Chinmoy (India), teacher, poet and endurance athlete posthumously inducted as Honour Administrator
• Ned Denison (Ireland), marathon swimmer and Honour Administrator
• Chris Green (UK), marathon swimmer and administrator
• David Parcells (USA), channel swimmer posthumously inducted as an Honour Swimmer
• Faros Maratón Swim (Croatia) as an Honour Organisation
• Irish Long Distance Swimming Association (Ireland) as an Honour Organisation
• Marcos Díaz (Dominican Republic), marathon swimmer and United Nations Swimming Ambassador
• Drury Gallagher (USA), Founder of the Manhattan Island Swimming Association
• Chad Hundeby (USA), English Channel and Catalina Channel record holder
• Eleanor Studley Hurd (USA), first woman to swim between Europe and Asia posthumously honored
• Des Renford (Australia), former King of the Channel® (19-time English Channel swimmer) posthumously honored
• Vicko Å oljan (Croatia),, President of the Croatian Long Distance Swimming Federation

The 2011 World Open Water Swimming Awards also honored the following individuals:

• Nejib Belhedi (Tunisia) World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year for 1400K Swim Across Tunisia
• Pilar Geijo (Argentina), World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year
• Jamie Patrick (USA), World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year

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!/admin/resources/1349010204lisaanddiananyad-.jpg(Lisa, Diana Nyad and Martin Strel)!

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30 September 2012