Herman Willemse

Herman Willemse is a dual inductee (Honor Swimmer in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in the Class of 1963 and an Honor Swimmer in the International Swimming Hall of Fame in its Class of 2008

Herman WIllemse, a Hall of Fame dual inductee and first president of the World Professional Marathon Swimmers Federation, points out towards the English Channel at the 1959 Billy Butlin Cross Channel International Swim

Herman Willemse is a Dutch competitive swimmer and professional marathon swimmer who is a Hall of Fame dual inductee and the 2018 recipient of the Dale Petranech Award for Services to the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame. He served as the President of the World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation during the 1960s. Willemse, known by his nickname the Flying Dutchman, dominated professional marathon swimming between 1960 and 1964.

Honors

• Willemse was inducted in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honor Swimmer in its Class of 1963.
• Willemse was inducted in the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honor Open Water Swimmer in 2008.
• Willemse was the first world male champion of the World Professional Marathon Swimmers Federation named in 1963.
• Willemse was the 2018 recipient of the Dale Petranech Award for Services to the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.

Swimming Career Highlights

• On 27 August 1959, he finished 2nd in the Butlins International Cross Channel Swimming Race from France to England in 12 hours 49 minutes in his first marathon swim.
• He won the 24 km (15-mile) Canadian National Exhibition race in 1961.
• He won the 24 km (15-mile) Canadian National Exhibition race in 1962.
• He won 36.2 km (22.5-mile) Atlantic City Around-the-Island Swim in New Jersey, USA five times from 1960 to 1964, winning US$5,000 each race that was equal to 7 years salary as a schoolteacher in the Netherlands - that completely changed his life.
  • In 1960, he won the 36.2 km Atlantic City Around The Island Swim in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 10 hours 30 minutes 5 seconds.
  • In 1961, he won the 36.2 km Atlantic City Around The Island Swim in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 11 hours 14 minutes 45 seconds.
  • In 1962, he won the 36.2 km Atlantic City Around The Island Swim in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 11 hours 35 minutes 45 seconds.
  • In 1963, he won the 36.2 km Atlantic City Around The Island Swim in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 10 hours 31 minutes 15 seconds.
  • In 1964, he won the 36.2 km Atlantic City Around The Island Swim in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 10 hours 8 minutes 15 seconds.
• On 5 August 1961, he won the 30 km Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean in Quebec, Canada in 10 hours 7 minutes 6 seconds.
• On 4 August 1962, he won the 30 km Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean in Quebec, Canada in 9 hours 3 minutes.
• On 3 August 1963, he won the 30 km Traversee internationale du lac St-Jean in Quebec, Canada in 8 hours 32 minutes 50 seconds.
• On 4 August 1964, he withdrew from the 30 km Traversee internationale du lac St-Jean in Quebec, Canada and did not finish.
• On 1 August 1964, he won the 12.5 km (8-mile) Northumberland Strait from New Brunswick to Prince Edward Islands in 5 hours.
• He won the 30 km (19-mile) Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean in 8 hours 32 minutes in 1963.
• On 11 July 1965, he placed fourth in the 36 km Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli in Italy in 9 hours 48 minutes 50 seconds.
• On 7 August 1965, he finished 4th in the 31 km Traversee internationale du lac St-Jean in Quebec, Canada in 8 hours 53 minutes 19 seconds.
• On 6 August 1966, he finished 4th in the 31 km Traversee internationale du lac St-Jean in Quebec, Canada in 8 hours 53 minutes 19 seconds.
• On 5 August 1967, he finished 4th in the 31 km Traversee internationale du lac St-Jean in Quebec, Canada in 9 hours 38 minutes 21 seconds.
• He won the 37 km (23-mile) la Descente ou remontée du Saguenay in 6 hours 15 minutes in 1966.
• He won the three 16 km (10-mile) Trois Riviere Swims between 1961 and 1963 in Canada.
• He won the 58 km (36-mile) Maratón Acuática Internacional Santa Fe - Coronda in Argentina in 1963.
• He finished third in the 58 km (36-mile) Maratón Acuática Internacional Santa Fe - Coronda in Argentina in 1964.
• He finished third in the 58 km (36-mile) Maratón Acuática Internacional Santa Fe - Coronda in Argentina in 1966.
• He won the 45 km (28-mile) Mar del Plata race in Argentina.
• He won the 42 km (26-mile) race in the Suez Canal in Egypt in 1964.
• He won the 88 km (54.6-mile) Maratón Internacional Hernandarias – Parana in Argentina.
• He was the 13-time Dutch national championships in the 100m, 400m and 1500m freestyle.
• When the World Marathon Swimming Championships, whereby points were awarded for performance in a series of races, he finished second to the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honour Swimmer Abou-Heif in 1964, 1965, 1966.

1966 Traversée Internationale du lac St-Jean Results

1. Judith de Nijs, Netherlands 8:38:57
2. Tom Bucy, USA 8:53:50
3. Regent Lacoursiere, Canada 8:59:35
4. Herman Willemse, Netherlands 9:05:39
5. George Park, Canada 9:44:16
6. Cliff Lumsdon, Canada 10:30:04
7. Abdel Latif Abou Heif, Egypt 10:30:04
8. Kurt Pluntke, Canada 11:05:15
9. Conrad Corbeil, Canada 11:42:46

Memoirs

Willemse wrote his memoirs about his open water swimming career called Vrije slag (Freestyle) in a 560-page book.

External links

• 1991, The Year Sports Changed. Men vs. Women In The Open Water
• Daily News of Open Water Swimming
• The Rich 70-year History of the World's Longest Running Professional Marathon Swim - Les folles histoires de la traversée du Lac St-Jean
• The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 1960's
• Melissa Cunningham Roberts Honored with the IMSHOF Dale Petranech Award
• The Best Open Water Swimmers from 1950 to 2020
• The Best Open Water Swimmers from 1950 to 2020
• The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 2010's
• The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 2000's
• The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 1990's
• The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 1980's
• The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 1970's
• The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 1950's
• International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Patrons
• Greta Andersen Competed Against The Best Men of Her Generation
• When Legends Meet: Tomi Stefanovski and Niko Nestor
• Vrije Slag By Herman Willemse
• Johannes Schans Talks About His Career On WOWSA Live
• Looking Up Into The Sky For Energy At 24 Heures La Tuque
• Herman Willemse Describes How Swimming Changed His Life On WOWSA Live
• Gilles Potvin Recalls His Swimming & Coaching Past On WOWSA Live
• ElShazly – Father And Son – Hall Of Famers On WOWSA Live
• Carlos Larriera Remembers Pro Marathon Racing On WOWSA Live
• Sandra Bucha Talks About Seeking Opportunities On WOWSA Live
• Richard Broer Talks About Dutch Open Water Swimming On WOWSA Live
• Herman Willemse International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame induction
• International Marathon Swimming Hall Of Fame Origins
• World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation History
• International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
• Open Water Swimming
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• WPMSF Led To IMSHOF
• World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation
• Marathon Swimming
• Open Water Swimming
• Daily News of Open Water Swimming
• The World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation
• A Giant Of The Sport, Joe Grossman
• World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation website
• International Marathon Swimming Hall Of Fame Origins
• World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation History
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• WPMSF Led To IMSHOF
• The World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation
• A Giant Of The Sport, Joe Grossman
• World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation website
• Northumberland Strait Recorded Swims
• Who Will Top Maratón Acuática Santa Fe - Coronda in 2014?
• WPMSF Led To IMSHOF
• Crème de la Crème Of The Open Water World
• World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation
• What Are Swimmers Known As?
• The World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation
• One Of The All-Time Greats Writes His Memoirs
• Swimming 88 km Since 1965
• Marathon Swimmers Federation bio
• Open Water Swimming Dual Inductees And Dual Honorees