Swimmer's Daily

  • James Pittar is blind. He is also a long-distance swimmer. In his amazing career, he has swum across the English Channel and taken on sharks and oil tankers. When the reality hit James that he was going blind, he hid in his bedroom for two years – his fate was particularly cruel since his dad was an ophthalmologist.

    So what is James doing in New York surrounded by skyscrapers, in Speedos, smeared with Vaseline, and standing on the edge of the Hudson River? He is attempting to claim some freedom back by swimming 48 kilometers around Manhattan in the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim. Imagine being buffeted by strong rips and tides as your arms turn to spaghetti and all you want to do is throw up. Your sole survival is to power on and listen for the whistles that will guide you to your destiny.

    Swimming with skyscrapers is James’ story: his fight against the elements; his disability; his will to be recognized and his larrikin support crew from Australia. They need James, and James needs them. The film observes James and his crew as they nervously waltz around the Big Apple in all its glory. He owes it to them to complete the swim, but not only must he fight pain, hypothermia, and water currents, he must also complete the swim within eight and a half hours or be hauled from the water by race officials. This is an uplifting and hopeful story of one man’s dreams fulfilled.

  • Donald Trump attacked LGTBQ+ people during his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday, claiming that “left-wing lunatics” were encouraging unfair competition between women and transwomen athletes.

    The president briefly welcomed Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer who has been critical of University Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, who is trans, for competing in the women’s division.

    “We will keep men out of women’s sports,” Mr Trump said in his speech, misgendering trans athletes like Ms Thomas.

  • Greg Stock, CEO of Thibodaux Regional Health System, is pleased to announce the hiring of Aquatic Swim Coach Robert Fletcher for our competitive swim team. Himself a former collegiate swimmer, Fletcher brings 30+ years of coaching experience, has produced nearly 100 All-Americans, and has seen greater than 50% of his swimmers go on to compete at the collegiate level.

    The Thibodaux Regional competitive swimming program will begin this month. Parents who are interested should attend our information meeting on Monday, August 8, at 6 pm on the fifth floor of Thibodaux Regional Wellness Center located at 726 North Acadia Road.

    Read more details at https://www.thibodaux.com/news/2022/a…

  • Since 1996, Swim Across America’s Boston event has raised millions of dollars for local cancer care and research. For a 1988 silver medalist, this year’s event hits closer to home.

  • Dozens of people, including members of the military and law enforcement, took part in the fourth annual Hudson River SEAL Team Swim Saturday.

  • On location in South Africa filming Shark Women: Ghosted By Great Whites, freediver Zandile Ndhlovu opens up about her first great white encounter, being a part of an all-female expedition, and the need for diversity in the ocean space.

  • A wild tiger shark named Emma has been asking for pets from her human friend for over 20 years! Watch how he repays her and other sharks for their friendship 💙

  • Well before the daily throng of tourists arrive at the beaches, local open water swimmers hit the water to soak up the beauty of Grand Traverse Bay. And to get a workout. For Ashlea Walter open water swimming in Traverse City is a way to connect with nature and her friends. They often swim from East Bay Park, and they catch up as they put on their wetsuits and swim buoys and wade into the lake.

    “It’s meditative once you get going,” she said. “It’s also is a nice escape from the busy world. Once you’re out there, you leave everything behind.”

  • Earlier this year, Australian singer Cody Simpson qualified for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. He was selected for Australia’s swim team after finishing third in the 100m butterfly at team trials. Simpson’s career switch to the pool sees him return to his childhood passion.