Marcos Díaz Nominated For The Premio Principe de Asturias

Marcos Díaz have been nominated for one of the world's prestigious awards "Premio Principe de Asturias" (Prince of Asturias Awards) in the Sports category.

Marcos is the first athlete from the Dominican Republic ever to be nominated for this award. There are a total of 19 nominees for this year's awards, all incredible world-renowned athletes.

Past winners of this awards have included the Spanish National futbol team (world champions), Rafael Nadal, Michael Schumacker, Lance Armstrong and Steffi Graf.

The only other open water swimmer ever to be nominated was multi-time world champion David Meca from Spain in 2004. Besides being named the World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year in 2010, Marcos also successfully completed the Swim Across The Continents.

The Prince of Asturias Awards are a series of annual prizes awarded in Spain by the Prince of Asturias Foundation to individuals, entities or organizations from around the world who make notable achievements in the sciences, humanities, and public affairs.

The prize was established in 1980 by the Prince of Asturias, heir to the throne of Spain, to consolidate links between the Principality and the Prince of Asturias, and to contribute to encouraging and promoting scientific, cultural and humanistic values that form part of mankind's universal heritage. The awards are presented in Oviedo, the capital of the Principality of Asturias, at a ceremony presided by Felipe, Prince of Asturias. A sculpture, expressly created for the prize by Spanish sculptor Joan Miró, is presented yearly to the recipients of the prize.

Photo of Marcos Diaz at the United Nations International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame ceremonies, courtesy of Skip Storch.

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source

Former Boxer To Head American Open Water Olympic Team

The Olympic 10K Marathon Swim at the 2012 London Olympics will be held in a tight, six-loop course in Hyde Park. The compact course, high-level competition and Olympic stakes will lead to a grudge match of an epic scale. Hard-nosed, extremely fit competitors with a knack for tactics will undoubtedly come out ahead.

And USA Swimming selected a former boxer-turned-successful collegiate coach to head its open water team at the 2012 London Olympics.

Well-respected Tim Murphy, coach of 2010 25K world champion Alex Meyer and long-time coach at Harvard University, will lead the American open water swimmers at the Serpentine. He understands well the tactics, techniques and training that will be required to enable his athletes to reach the Olympic podium.

Tim has led the Harvard University men's swimming and diving team to six Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming League championships and a 107-9 record in his 13 seasons as its head coach. He is a member of the USA Swimming National Team coaching staff and is on the board of directors for New England Swimming.

Tim has placed athletes on Olympic, World University, Pan Pacific and Pan American teams and was named head coach of the USA Swimming men's open water team prior to the 2011 FINA World Championships. He has also served as an assistant men's coach at the 2009 World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia, also worked as an assistant at the 2001 World University Games in Beijing and at the 1993 World Short Course Championships. He was also a member of the Open Water Staff at the 1998 World Championships in Australia.

Tim will teach his swimmers the ability to give a figurative knock-out punch on that last and final loop in front of tens of thousands of fans on the Serpentine.

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source

No Lanes, No Walls, No Borders In Search Of Memphré

Intrepid swimmers will swim 26 miles across Lake Memphremagog that lies between the state of Vermont in the United States and the province of Québec, Canada in search of Memphré.

In Search of Memphré is a new international cross-border 26-mile marathon swimming event that harks back to the early days of the Traversée internationale du lac Memphrémagog.

The swimmers, their crews and the organizers are on a three-fold mission:

1. To promote a more open border with between American and Canadian neighbors even as they support efforts to deal with terrorist activities.

2. To raise funds to support the continuing operations of the Indoor Recreation Center Orleans County which provides critically needed health and wellness services for people at risk such as those suffering from diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

3. To search Memphré, the famed, albeit mythical, reptile-like creature of Lake Memphremagog (the American version of the Loch Ness Monster).

The swimmers include world record holder Elizabeth Fry (52), David Dammerman (42), Alison Meehan (39), Shannon Keegan (36), Greg O’Connor (42), Jennifer Dutton (42), Charlotte Brynn (45), William Shipp (51), Emma Reade Otto-Moudry (16), Elaine Howley (33) and John Humenik (36).

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source

Ronan Keating Completes Swim Relay Across Irish Sea

Famed Irish singer and television personality Ronan Keating has completed a relay crossing of the Irish Sea. This effort was done to support UK Cancer Research. Keating has used his celebrity status to engage in philanthropic efforts including marathon runs, mountain climbs. For more information visit "The Swim".

Liane Llewellyn, Olly White, Nikki Fraser, Becky Lewis, Colm O'Neill and Jonathan Openshaw - the non-celebrity swimmers - swam brilliantly, for without their strong efforts, this would have been a much longer swim.

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source

Swimming 1400K - And More - As An Expression Of International Peace

TUNISIA. Day by day, kilometer by kilometer, beach by beach, Nejib Belhedi is making his way 1,400 kilometers along the entire coast of his native Tunisia.

Nejib's stage swim, called the 1400K Swim Across Tunisia, is a lofty goal. As he works his way across the country, support from people of all backgrounds is picking up and the media attention is growing.

"I want peace, tolerance and love for other to to defeat terrorism and fanaticism.

This is especially symbolic and important during this September 11th memorial anniversary," said the former Lt.Colonel in the Tunisian Army. "I will meet soon Libyan swimmer Said Algezawi in Bibane Lake as one stage of the 1400K Swim Across Tunisia. This stage is the nearest and safest area to the Libyan boundary and will complete the Djerba shore to Boughrara Lake coast stage.

As I land on Ben Guerdane beach coming from Bibane, Said will meet me and join together to show and exchange our country's flags. The exchange will be covered by Tunisian TV 1."

Said is a member of an English Channel relay in 2010. "Our act expresses the friendship and solidarity between Tunisian and Libyan peoples during these revolutions. The consolidation of our common destiny and gives us hope to see the the democratic process through. Said will relay with his 9 English relay team members along the Libyan coast. Together, we are hopeful this marathon will continue and be extended to Egypt by Egyptian swimmers. As the momentum continues, we dream that the relay will extend later to Syria when this country will be free.

Then, why not have Israeli and Palestine swimmers help extend this relay?"

The courageous and visionary Nejib forges on day by day, kilometer by kilometer, beach by beach - remarkable during this time of political turmoil.

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source

The Risk Of Open Water Swimming Alone In Busy Waters

The Associated Press and the Watertown Daily News reported that 66-year-old Peter Hendley was swimming from Grenell Island to Murray Island in Alexandria Bay in New York when he was hit by a boat. Peter had been swimming with a small buoy to alert others that he was in the water.

However, visibility was an issue as winds had kicked up whitecaps and the sun's glare may have made it difficult for others to see him.

Peter was swimming alone at the time of the accident and was pronounced dead at a local hospital after being pulled from the lake by the boater who struck him.

Peter was a regular swimmer in the bay where he stayed and normally swam alone. The U.S. Coast Guard and state park police assisted in the investigation but say no charges are anticipated.

Alexandria Bay is located in New York's Thousand Islands region where 1,793 islands exist. The region explodes with activity in the summer when boaters, fishermen, and vacationers descend upon the beautifully scenic bay.

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source

Together, Lance Ogren Smashes Ederle Swim Record

Lance Ogden set a new record with a time of 4:01:07 on the 17.5-mile Ederle Swim course from Manhattan Island in New York City to Sandy Hook in New Jersey.

He averaged over 4 miles per hour throughout the swim and was escorted by an all-star crew alongside the boat Together II. Although the last mile took 35-40 minutes, Lance and his crew timed it right - a key in the river swims around the New York City area.

According to NYC Swim founder Morty Berger who organized the swim, Lance utilized a scout and guide formation with his paddlers and boats.

"A lead boat and paddler were deployed ahead of Lance to make sure he did not swim into any flotsam - which was a huge concern. They also helped verifying the currents ahead to make sure we went on the correct course. Richard Clifford was for the most part at Lance's right side the entire time, while Vlad was in front - playing the scout. There was also a second boat on the water, the Sailfish.

The swim was timed at one of the fastest currents for the year (predicted maximum was 2.57 knots)."

Instead of the reported 17.5-mile distance, the actual distance that Lance swam was confirmed by Morty to be approximately 16.4 miles, a course taken to maximize the tides for that day. "Lance averaged about 4.08 miles per hour to 3.545 knots per hour. So based on Lance's predicted swimming speed, he had an average beneficial push of 1.3 knots," explained Morty.

Lance's fitness, his open water experience in the area, his trust in his crew, and the selection of the timing of his start may put this record out of record for a long time.

Photos courtesy of Vlad Brezina are posted here.

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source

What Is The Personality Of An Open Water Swimmer?

Open Water Source presents the Personalities of Open Water Swimmer. It is a Facebook quiz here.

The sport of open water swimming attracts people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds and cultures.

Perhaps because the sport holds its competitions in oceans, lakes, rivers, bays, canals, channels, and reservoirs, each with its own characteristics and conditions, open water swimmers are most definitely not one size fits all.

Swimmers come in different sizes and shapes and span the range of personalities. Some swimmers are bubbly and fun-loving; others are serious and academic; others are carefree and spontaneous; while some prefer to be introverted or extroverted depending on the situation.

Which general personality characterizes you? Take this quick test to find out.

There are four final possibilities in this game:

1. Bubbly and fun-loving - You love life, especially open water swimming and your open water swimming friends. You absolutely enjoy the allure of the open water, but also most other challenges, people and encounters in your life. You have a smile on your face before, during and after your open water swims and are always open to heading to new shores with both close and new friends.

2. Introvert-extrovert hybrid - You are very serious about your sport, but you also like to have a lot of fun doing it. You enjoy training with other similarly focused teammates, but the laughter, jokes and smiles are also equally important. You always monitor your workout times, training distances and intervals, but you enjoy a good meal and engaging conversation with friends even more.

3. Serious and academic - You appreciate success and respect the planning and hard work that leads to it. You enjoy the technical aspects of open water swimming, especially preparing the logistical, operational and navigational aspects of your swims. You can analyze your talents and strengths well, and are motivated to correct your weaknesses.

4. Carefree and spontaneous - You take life as it comes as well as the dynamic nature of the marine environment. You enjoy going to new locations and swimming in different kinds of conditions and with anyone who is willing to join you. You appreciate all kinds of situations and people, and can adapt well to circumstances both in and out of the water.

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source