%20(1)%20(1)_edited.png){kind=small}
Swim In Team USA's Historic Waters
We have spoken about how Olympic stars have transitioned to Hollywood but do you know that you can go to where they swam ? For this piece we covered 3 Team USA swimmers; Johnny Weismuller, Duke Kahanamoku and Gertrude Ederle as we are people of the water after all. Whilst these icons have come a huge part of Olympic history as well as pop culture, did you know you can swim in swim In Team USA's historic waters?
Johnny Weissmuller
We have spoken about the incredible feats of Johnny Weissmuller in our ‘Athlete to Hollywood Star Article’. Being the first of Hollywood's many male sex symbols achieving setting 67 world records took a lot of training. Born in Freidorf, which was part of Austria-Hungary at the time of his birth (now part of Romania), his family emigrated to the USA via Ellis Island. Weismuller is to have said to trained in Lake Michigan.
Duke Kahanamoku
Weissmuller's competitor Duke Kahanamoku’s was a triple threat (literally). Kahanamoku not only won 3 Olympic Gold Medals but was an excellent sportsman in freestyle swimming relay and surfing. A Native Hawaiian, Kahanamoku faced suppression of his Native Hawaiian culture and language by the U.S. government., Duke faced racial discrimination both in Hawaii and on the mainland U.S. Segregation and racism were prevalent, and as a Native Hawaiian, he often encountered prejudice. Despite this, Kahanamoku set multiple world records in freestyle swimming, won 5 Olympics medals and is known as the father of modern surfing.
Kahanamoku broke the freestyle world record at Honolulu Harbour. Whilst Hawaii we are mindful of how increased visitor numbers can effect Hawaiis beauty, Snorkel Manukai offers incredible private charters to sail and swim Honolulu Harbour.
Atlantic City, New Jersey,
Kahanamoku also is said to have trained at Atlantic City, New Jersey. The official website gives good guidance.
Before you swim, please check out Atlantic City Uptown | Safe Beach Day | Safe Beach Day for safety guidance.
Gertrude Ederle
Gertrude Ederle, an American competitive swimmer, made history on August 6, 1926, by becoming the first woman to swim across the English Channel. Born on 1905, in New York City, Ederle developed a passion for swimming at an early age, joining the Women's Swimming Association and quickly establishing herself as a formidable competitor. Her achievement, the swim of the English Channel, a feat previously accomplished only by five men, took 14 hours and 31 minutes, setting a new record that stood for 24 years. A swim to commemorate this impressive feat is the swim from New York to Sandy Hook, New Jersey.
Alternatively, swimming the channel is also a noble pursuit. The channel swimming association is a broad and fantastic source for information in regards to achieving this and their website can be found here.
Comments