With both of these women - and the other 22 individuals who have attempted this swim since the first documented attempts in 1950 - distance is only one of the obstacles. Financing, box jellyfish, logistics and politics are four other major obstacles to overcome. Each swimmer does this swim - and every other individual who attempts a marathon swim (and any open water swims) - does so for their own reasons. These reasons range from a personal goal to a means of raising money for others. They include swimming after a death in the family to a road to the Olympics. The reasons are as varied as the number of swimmers venturing beyond the shorelines. Some stories - like Diana taking off 30 years and then coming back in her 60s with a story that everyone has a limited time here on Earth and should go after their own dreams - catches the interest of the media. Some stories - like Dave Barra's incredible year of marathon swims in 2010 - are too mind-boggling for many, but of intense interest to those in the marathon swimming community. Some stories - like Penny's - are inspirational because she achieves her goals after raising 3 children with a singular focus. Some stories - like Craig Dietz swimming in the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim - bring tears to your ears and leave me shaking my head in wonder. But everyone has a story. Some want their stories to be public; others prefer to keep them private. Personally, I want to read about ALL of these courageous individuals who attempt open water swims. They ALL have great stories and great motivations behind them. They ALL inspire me. The more stories and the more press I read, the more I realize how wonderful swimmers are.
With both of these women - and the other 22 individuals who have attempted this swim since the first documented attempts in 1950 - distance is only one of the obstacles. Financing, box jellyfish, logistics and politics are four other major obstacles to overcome. Each swimmer does this swim - and every other individual who attempts a marathon swim (and any open water swims) - does so for their own reasons. These reasons range from a personal goal to a means of raising money for others. They include swimming after a death in the family to a road to the Olympics. The reasons are as varied as the number of swimmers venturing beyond the shorelines. Some stories - like Diana taking off 30 years and then coming back in her 60s with a story that everyone has a limited time here on Earth and should go after their own dreams - catches the interest of the media. Some stories - like Dave Barra's incredible year of marathon swims in 2010 - are too mind-boggling for many, but of intense interest to those in the marathon swimming community. Some stories - like Penny's - are inspirational because she achieves her goals after raising 3 children with a singular focus. Some stories - like Craig Dietz swimming in the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim - bring tears to your ears and leave me shaking my head in wonder. But everyone has a story. Some want their stories to be public; others prefer to keep them private. Personally, I want to read about ALL of these courageous individuals who attempt open water swims. They ALL have great stories and great motivations behind them. They ALL inspire me. The more stories and the more press I read, the more I realize how wonderful swimmers are.
