Walter Poenisch

Walter Poenisch is a dual inductee (Pioneer Swimmer of both the International Swimming Hall of Fame in the Class of 2017 and the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in the Class of 2020

Walter Poenisch, dual inductee (Honour Swimmer of both the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame. Photo by Fay Poenisch

Fidel Castro celebrating the Swim for Peace by Walter Poenisch in 1978, together with Fay Poenisch

Walter Poenisch swimming along the Florida Keys on one of his three world record ocean swims in a shark cage

Fayette Poenisch and Walter Poenisch

Walter Poenisch (1913 - 6 June 2000 at the age of 87) was a former American open water swimmer who completed open water swims in Michigan, Ohio, Florida, and in the Atlantic Ocean where he set three world records. He was called the World's Strongest Endurance Swimmer as he towed a 30-ton paddlewheel boat while swimming with his hands and feet shackled. He also completed a swim from Cuba to The Little Duck Key in Florida at the age of 68 on 11 July 1978. His solo swim covered 208 km in 34 hours 15 minutes. He was escorted by Captain Bendt Lynge, observer and authenticator J. Marvin Mims, President of the International Federation of Professional Ocean Swimmers and Divers, Glenn Drummond, escort boat owner, and his wife Fayette Poenisch.

Honors

• Poenisch was inducted in the International Swimming Hall of Fame as a Pioneer Swimmer in its Class of 2017.
• Poenisch was inducted in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honor Swimmer in its Class of 2020.

Open Water Swimming Career Highlights

• At the age of 4, he swam across Buckeye Lake in Ohio.
• 23-24 August 1963: at the age of 50. he entered the 60-mile (96.5 km) professional Jim Moran Lake Michigan Swims from Chicago, Illinois to Benton Harbor-St. Joseph, Michigan in Lake Michigan, but failed to finish.
• 1968: he attempted a swim from Nassau, Bahamas to Miami, Florida that ended after 50 miles when his shark cage sank to the ocean floor.
• 1969: he was awarded the title of World’s Strongest Endurance Swimmer by the World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation after towing two rowboats containing several people for 3.5 miles in Columbus, Ohio.
• 1970: he towed a 30-ton, 47-foot river boat for 200 feet against the current of the Miami River, Florida at the age of 66.
• 1971: he pulled a 15-ton steamboat 1.5 miles in Gull Lake, Michigan.
• 1972: longest ocean swim of 90.75 miles (146 km) in the Straits of Florida in the Atlantic Ocean that was called the Swim of the Century. The feat was sponsored by Borden Burger of Columbus and co-sponsored by the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
• 1976: longest ocean swim of 122.5 miles (197.1 km) from Marathon in the Florida Keys to Duck Key on the tip of the Florida peninsula that was called the Bicentennial Swim in a red, white and blue shark cage. The swim was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records as The Longest Distance Ocean Swim and was officially recognized and sanctioned by International Swimming Hall of Fame as the same.
• 11-13 July 1978: longest ocean swim of 128.8 miles (207.8 km) across the Straits of Florida in a shark cage and fins from Cuba to Little Duck Key, Florida in his Swim for Peace as an example of Speedo diplomacy under the auspices of the International Federation of Ocean Swimmers and Divers at the age of 65.
• He is a Patron of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.

Swim for Peace Rules

Poenisch followed the rules of the International Federation of Ocean Swimmers and Divers on his swim across the Straits of Florida:

• Fins are allowed
• Snorkel is allowed
• Shark cage is allowed
• Getting out of the water four times for no longer than five minutes at a time to administer emergency medicine, receive critical nourishment, or for any reason that directly threatened the life of the swimmer

External links

• International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Patrons
• 2020 International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Induction Virtual Ceremonies
• Celebrating Champions, Honoring Heroes At The Virtual Class Of 2020 IMSHOF Induction & Awards Ceremony
• Marathon Swimming Heroes In Memoriam
• Swimming In Sharky Waters
• The Year That Boosted Walter Poenisch To (The Hall Of) Fame
• Walter Poenisch Inducted In Swimming Hall Of Fame
• Swim4Peace
• Widow of Columbus Man Says He Completed Cuba to Florida Swim
• Walter Poenisch in Florida Keys
• Shark Infested Waters From Cuba To Florida
• Australian Is The First Woman To Swim From Cuba To Florida
• Walter Poenisch Swims To Cuba
• Poenisch Win Libel Suit
• Birthday Boy On Way To Swimming Milestone
• Sports Illustrated On Walter Poenisch
• Lost At Sea
• Diana Nyad's Great Regret
• Open Water Talk From 1978
• Were Records Made To Be Broken (In The Open Water)?
• Two Hall Of Famers And Fidel Castro
• Swimming, Boating, Rafting From Cuba To Florida
• 1978, The Year That Was
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• Walter Poenisch Inducted In Swimming Hall Of Fame
• Fay And Walter Poenisch Enter Swimming Hall Of Fame
• Maarten van der Weijden Swims 99,450 Meters In 24
• Walter Poenisch' Swimming Hall of Fame
• World's Strongest Endurance Swimmer, Walter Poenisch
• Walter Poenisch Showcased On Travel Channel
• Iron Swims, Pulling Over The Years By Nejib Belhedi