Craig Dietz

From Openwaterpedia
Craig Dietz's Dietz 10 km marathon swim in Lake Memphremagog during the Kingdom Swim.was nominated for the 2016 WOWSA Awards, a recognition of outstanding men, women, performances and offerings around the globe sponsored by the World Open Water Swimming Association in the category of the World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year
Craig Dietz
Craig Dietz
Craig Dietz
Craig Dietz

Craig Dietz (whose nickname is the Limbless Waterman) was born on 13 April 1974 and grew up in the rural town of St. Marys, Pennsylvania, United States. He is an open water swimmer and triathlete. He is also a motivational speaker who was the keynote speaker at the 2012 Global Open Water Swimming Conference in Long Beach, California. He also swam 5.1 km at the Swim Across America Long Beach event on 23 September 2012 and the Midmar Mile in South Africa in 37:10 on 8 February 2013, and the Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim in San Francisco Bay on 19 May 2013.

His longest swim to date is a successful completion of the 6-mile Kingdom Swim on Lake Memphremagog, Vermont in July 2016, winning the Adaptive Division in 4 hours 12 minutes together with escort kayaker Laura Dolgin.

Honors

2016 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year Nomination

Dietz was nominated for his 10 km marathon swim in Lake Memphremagog during the Kingdom Swim. His WOWSA Awards nomination reads,

Craig Dietz has changed mindsets and expectations with his love of the open water. His ambitions are so inspirational; his message is so powerful; his courage is so compelling. The Limbless Waterman, born without arms or legs, has stepped up his swimming achievements to now include a 10 km marathon swim. With his 4 hour 12 minute completion of the Kingdom Swim in Lake Memphremagog, Dietz is the embodiment of the oft-spoken marathon swimming adage: Anything is possible if you put your mind to it. He is clearly defined not by the physical challenges he faces, but how he has faced the challenges he meets. A man with a sense of mission, humility, humor, and a hunger to succeed, Dietz is an athletic, undulating relentlessly to achieve his aquatic - and dryland - goals. For his degree of courage and breath of boldness ingrained in his DNA, for his depth of character and willingness to try to extend himself in the open water, for his charismatic personality that immediately creates fans and inspires wonder, Craig Dietz's marathon swim in Lake Memphremagog is a worthy nominee for the 2016 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year.

2012 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year Nomination

Dietz was nominated for the 2012 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year awards. His WOWSA Awards nomination reads,

With one speech, Craig Dietz moved the world at the Global Open Water Swimming Conference. His delivery was so riveting; his message was so powerful; his courage was so compelling that race directors from around the world invited him to their events throughout Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. He had luminaries of the sport breathless as he captivated them with his sense of mission, humility, humor, and hunger to succeed. When he swims, it is obvious that he is an athlete: undulating to reach his aquatic goals. He is fearless and bold. Born without arms and without legs, courage and creativity are part of his DNA. Dietz shows other how far drive and imagination can take us. His swims this year spanned America: 5 km at Swim Across America on the West Coast and 4.4 miles at the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim on the East Coast. For his depth of character, for his willingness to try to extend himself in the open water, for his charismatic personality that immediately creates fans and inspires wonder, Craig Dietz is a worthy nominee for the 2012 WOWSA Open Water Swimming Man of the Year.

Background

Despite being born without limbs, Dietz did normal activities with family and friends bowling, hunting, fishing, playing percussion in the school band and volleyball. His parents, two sisters and brother have always been extremely supportive of his activities throughout his life. His family was instrumental in getting him driving lessons and purchasing a van specially equipped for him to drive. Craig has lived independently since graduating from high school, and currently resides with his wife in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Education

Dietz graduated from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh in 1996, with a B.A. in political science. At Duquesne, he was involved with the Campus Ministry and a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1999 and passed the bar exam on his first attempt, without any special accommodations. Dietz worked as an Assistant City Solicitor for the City of Harrisburg until 2006 when he took the same position with the City of Pittsburgh.

Open Water Swimming

Videos




2014 World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men

Dietz was named to the 2014 list of the World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men determined by the World Open Water Swimming Association. The honorees are presented alphabetically by their last name.

1. Nick Adams, channel/marathon swimmer from England
2. Antonio Argüelles Díaz-González from Mexico
3. Cyril Baldock, marathon/channel swimmer from Australia
4. Peter Bales, escort pilot in Cape Town, South Africa
5. Ram Barkai, ice swimmer from South Africa
6. Nejib Belhedi, marathon/stage swimmer from Tunisia
7. Vito Bialla, escort pilot of the Farallon Islands, California, USA
8. Alexander Brylin, channel ice swimmer from Russia
9. Bruckner Chase, marathon/extreme swimmer from California, USA
10. Andrew Chin, ice/extreme swimmer from South Africa
11. Salvatore Cimmino, amputee/marathon swimmer from Italy
12. Phil Cutti, extreme/relay swimmer from California, USA
13. Ned Denison, marathon/ice swimmer from Ireland
14. Marcos Díaz, marathon/adventure/charity swimmer from the Dominican Republic
15. Craig Dietz, open water swimmer from Pennsylvania, USA
16. Ted Erikson, channel/marathon/professional swimmer from Illinois, USA
17. Sylvain Estadieu, marathon/channel/butterfly swimmer from France
18. Christopher Green, marathon swimmer from England
19. Rafael Gutiérrez Mesa, escort pilot/governing body president from Spain
20. Colin Hill, ice/channel swimmer and event director from England
21. Henri Kaarma, ice swimmer from Estonia
22. Craig Lenning, marathon/channel/ice swimmer from Colorado, USA
23. Joseph Locke, marathon/channel swimmer from California, USA
24. Pádraig Mallon, marathon/channel/ice swimmer from Ireland
25. Vojislav Mijić, marathon swimmer/event director from Serbia
26. Darren Miller, Oceans Seven swimmer and event director from Pennsylvania, USA
27. Kevin Murphy, renowned marathon/channel swimmer from England
28. Forrest Nelson, marathon/channel swimmer and governing body president from California, USA
29. Matías Ola, ice/extreme swimmer from Argentina
30. Michael Oram, renowned escort pilot in the English Channel
31. Kieron Palframan, ice/extreme swimmer from South Africa
32. Jamie Patrick, marathon/extreme swimmer from California, USA
33. James Pittar, blind marathon/channel/extreme swimmer from Australia
34. Claudio Plit, marathon/channel/professional swimmer from Argentina
35. Dan Projansky, marathon/extreme swimmer from Illinois, USA
36. Lewis Pugh OIG, endurance swimmer/ocean advocate from UK
37. Michael Read MBE, renowned marathon/channel swimmer from England
38. Stephen Redmond, Oceans Seven swimmer from Ireland
39. Philip Rush, marathon/channel/professional swimmer and Cook Strait escort from New Zealand
40. Mike Spalding, channel/marathon swimmer from Hawaii, USA
41. Petar Stoychev, marathon/channel/Olympic swimmer from Bulgaria
42. Ryan Stramrood, ice/extreme swimmer from South Africa
43. Martin Strel, marathon/stage swimmer from Slovenia
44. Dr. Otto Thaning, channel/marathon swimmer from South Africa
45. Toks Viviers, ice/extreme swimmer from South Africa
46. Adam Walker, Oceans Seven swimmer and coach from England
47. Christof Wandratsch, ice/marathon/channel/professional swimmer from Germany
48. Brenton Williams, butterfly/ocean swimmer from South Africa [in photo above by Clive Wright]
49. Theodore Yach, marathon/channel swimmer from Cape Town, South Africa
50. John York, marathon/channel swimmer from California, USA

2016 NEKOWSA Swimmer of the Year

Dietz was selected as the 2016 NEKOWSA Swimmer of the Year for this 10 km Kingdom Swim.

2017 World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men

Dietz is named to the World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men in 2017 (alphabetized by last name) by the World Open Water Swimming Association:

1. Dr. Doron Amosi, extreme relay/cross-border swimmer from Israel
2. Antonio Argüelles Díaz-González, channel swimmer and endurance athlete from Mexico
3. Cyril Baldock, marathon/channel swimmer from Australia
4. Ram Barkai, administrator, event organizer and ice swimmer from South Africa
5. John Batchelder, butterflying marathon swimmer from USA
6. Nejib Belhedi, marathon/stage/boat pull swimmer from Tunisia
7. Alexander Brylin, channel ice swimmer from Russia
8. Luc Chetboun, extreme relay/cross-border swimmer from Israel
9. Salvatore Cimmino, amputee advocate and marathon/extreme swimmer from Italy
10. Jean Craven, marathon/extreme swimmer from South Africa
11. Ned Denison, IMSHOF administrator and marathon/ice swimmer from Ireland
12. Craig Dietz, disabled open water swimmer from USA
13. Ben Enosh, extreme relay/cross-border swimmer from Israel/USA
14. Udi Erell, extreme relay/cross-border swimmer from Israel
15. Stephen Junk, channel swimmer from Australia
16. Henri Kaarma, event organizer and ice swimmer from Estonia
17. Ger Kennedy, ice, underwater and extreme swimmer from Ireland
18. Craig Lenning, marathon/channel/ice swimmer from the USA
19. Neil Macaskill, extreme/cross-border swimmer from South Africa
20. Pádraig Mallon, escort pilot, event organizer and marathon/channel/ice swimmer from Ireland
21. Ingemar Patiño Macarine, channel/marathon swimmer from the Philippines
22. Andrew Malinak, administrator and cold water/marathon/channel swimmer from the USA
23. Chris Marthinusen, extreme/high-altitude swimmer from South Africa
24. Patrick McKnight, marathon/channel swimmer from the USA
25. Allan McLeland, Peak and Pond swimmer/climber from the USA
26. Darren Miller, channel swimmer and event director from the USA
27. Rohan More, marathon/channel swimmer from India
28. Gullupilli Narhari, extreme relay swimmer from India
29. Matías Ola, event organizer and ice/extreme swimmer from Argentina
30. Kieron Palframan, ice/extreme swimmer from South Africa
31. James Pittar, blind marathon/channel swimmer from Australia
32. Javier Mérida Prieto, disabled Triple Crown swimmer from Spain
33. Lewis Pugh OIG, ocean advocate and ice/extreme swimmer from the UK
34. Oded Rahav, extreme relay/cross-border swimmer from Israel
35. Stephen Redmond, channel/marathon swimmer from Ireland
36. Adrian Sarchet, marathon/channel swimmer from Guernsey
37. Ori Sela, extreme relay/cross-border swimmer from Israel
38. Dan Simonelli, coach/guide/observer and marathon/channel swimmer from the USA
39. Paramvir Singh, extreme relay swimmer from India
40. Albert Sobirov, ice swimmer from Russia
41. Petar Stoychev, marathon/channel/ice/Olympic swimmer from Bulgaria
42. Ryan Stramrood, ice/extreme swimmer from South Africa
43. Martin Strel, marathon/stage swimmer from Slovenia
44. Dr. Otto Thaning, channel/marathon swimmer from South Africa
45. Jacques Tuset, prison island swimmer from France
46. Toks Viviers, ice/extreme swimmer from South Africa
47. Adam Walker, coach, event organizer, and channel swimmer from England
48. Christof Wandratsch, event organizer and ice/marathon/channel/professional swimmer from Germany
49. Brenton Williams, event organizer and butterfly ocean swimmer from South Africa
50. Herman van der Westhuizen, extreme high-altitude swimmer from South Africa

External links

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