James Pittar

James Pittar, inductee (Honour Swimmer) in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, Class of 2009

James Pittar is a member of the Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Class of 2020

James Pittar's autobiography Blind Vision was nominated for the 2019 WOWSA Awards in the World Open Water Swimming Offering of the Year category

Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination

James Pittar, International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honour Swimmer

James Pittar is an Australian tax official and open water swimmer from Sydney who was inducted in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honor Swimmer in 2009. He become the first blind swimmer to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming and swims and raised over $AUS 100,000 on behalf of the Fred Hollows Foundation and works for the Rainbow Club Foundation which teaches disabled kids how to swim. He is a member of the Rottnest Channel Swim Honour Board and author of Blind Vision, his autobiography. He serves as a Marathon Swimming Mentor.

Media

• Claire Daniel wrote a book, Swimming the Continents, about Pittar's aquatic exploits in the oceans, rivers and lakes around the world.
• Pittar was the subject of the documentary, Swimming with Skyscrapers.
• He wrote and released Blind Vision, his autobiography in the face of loss, triumph and love.

Blindness

Pittar suffers from a genetic disorder called Retinitis Pigmentosa, which causes a degeneration of the retina. This disease was diagnosed when he was 16 after he suffered from rapidly decreasing vision. He was legally blind by 21 and completely blind by his early 30s.

Open Water Swimming Career

• On 23 July 2020, he completed a marathon swim from Martha's Vineyard to Nantucket in a tandem swim with Debra Blair in 8 hours.
• He swum across the 33.5 km English Channel, 32.3 km Catalina Channel and 45.9 km Manhattan Island Marathon Swim to become the first Australian and second disabled person to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming.
• On 21 February 1998, he finished 36th in the 19.7 km Rottnest Channel Swim in Western Australia in 7 hours 51 minutes 24 seconds at the age of 28.
• On 19 July 1998, he completed a 33.8 km crossing of the English Channel from England to France in 13 hours 50 minutes at the age of 28.
• On 20 February 1999, he finished 41st in the 19.7 km Rottnest Channel Swim in Western Australia in 8 hours 59 minutes 13 seconds at the age of 29.
• On 12 June 1999, he finished 25th in the 45.9 km Manhattan Island Marathon Swim in New York in 7 hours 58 minutes 55 seconds at the age of 29.
• On 26 February 2000, he finished 84th in the 19.7 km Rottnest Channel Swim in 7 hours 42 minutes at the age of 30.
• On 24 February 2001, he finished 96th in the 19.7 km Rottnest Channel Swim in Western Australia in 8 hours 44 minutes 59 seconds at the age of 31.
• On 23 February 2002, he finished 100th in the 19.7 km Rottnest Channel Swim in Western Australia in 9 hours 3 minutes 44 seconds at the age of 32.
• On 1 August 2002, he completed a 14.4 km crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain to Morocco in 4 hours 51 minutes at the age of 32.
• On 22 February 2003, he finished 72nd in the 19.7 km Rottnest Channel Swim in Western Australia in 10 hours 1 minutes 27 seconds at the age of 33.
• On 5 March 2004, he completed a 23 km crossing of the Cook Strait from South Island to North Island in New Zealand in 8 hours 31 minutes at the age of 34.
• On 15 September 2006, he completed a 32.3 km crossing of the Catalina Channel from Santa Catalina Island to the Southern California mainland in 11 hours 36 minutes 50 seconds at the age of 36.
• On 20 May 2007, he finished 15th in a 10 km South Head Roughwater in Watson's Bay, Australia in 3 hours 25 minutes 11 seconds at the age of 37.
• On 12 August 2007, he finished 5th in the 13.2 Pennock Island Challenge in Alaska, USA in 3 hours 29 minutes 25 seconds at the age of 37.
• On 17 May 2009, he finished 8th in the 10 km South Head Roughwater in Watson's Bay, Australia in 3 hours 37 minutes 57 seconds at the age of 39.
• On 15 May 2011, he finished 22nd in the 10 km South Head Roughwater in Watson's Bay, Australia in 3 hours 46 minutes 23 seconds at the age of 41.
• On 19 May 2013, he finished 44th in the 10 km South Head Roughwater in Watson's Bay, Australia in 3 hours 41 minutes at the age of 43.
• On 3 May 2014, he finished a 7.4 km crossing from Robben Island to Blouberg, Cape Town, South Africa in 3 hours 4 minutes 31 seconds at the age of 44.
• Pittar completed a 21 km marathon swim in Phuket, Thailand
• Pittar completed an 11 km marathon swim in Anzac Cove in Turkey
• Pittar completed a 25 km marathon swim in the Vaal River in South Africa
• Pittar completed a 60 km marathon swim down the Paraná River in Argentina
• Pittar completed 10 km Capitola Pier to Santa Cruz pier swim in 2007.
• Pittar completed a 6 miles swim in Inisbofin Harbour in Ireland.
• Pittar was a member of the successful, unprecedented, 6-day Bering Strait Swim relay, a 53-mile (86 km) relay crossing from Cape Dezhnev in Chukotka, Russia, to Cape Prince of Wales in the state of Alaska, USA
• Pittar completed 4 of the Oceans Seven channel swims in his career.
• On 23 July 2000, he completed a 26 km swim from Martha's Vineyard to Nantucket Island in Massachusetts, USA.

2019 World Open Water Swimming Offering of the Year Nomination

Pittar's autobiography Blind Vision was nominated for the 2019 World Open Water Swimming Offering of the Year award as follows:

Blind Vision is the autobiography of James Pittar, an Australian tax official who is an International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer. Pittar is not only a prolific marathon swimmer with myriad channel crossings around the world, but he also has raised over $100,000 on behalf of the Fred Hollows Foundation and works for the Rainbow Club Foundation which teaches disabled kids how to swim. Blind Vision shares his story from his sighted youth to becoming completely blind by his early 30's due to the degeneration of his retina. For telling the hopes, dreams and challenges - both on dryland and in the open water - of a most incredible human being, for describing many of his aquatic adventures in as-yet-untold details, and for sharing the mindset of daring to be different, the autobiography of James Pittar, Blind Vision, is a worthy nominee for the 2019 World Open Water Swimming Offering of the Year.

2012 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year Nomination

Pittar's Shelley Beach Swim was nominated for the 2012 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year award as follows:

What you believe, you can achieve. Your dreams are deep within you; you feel it in your heart, you visualize it in your mind. James Pittar cannot see but he certainly envisions his marathon swimming goals – and all the good that comes from his sims. The International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honour Swimmer suffers from impaired vision, but that has not slowed him in dreaming and achieving all kinds of successes in the open water. His 12 km Shelley Beach Swim was another achievement in his impressively prolific body of work in the water and on land. Many swimmers have their favorite charities but Pittar's lack of vision makes his charity swims on behalf of The Fred Hollows Foundation especially fitting. For his ability to envision and execute success, for his stature as a role model for visually impaired athletes, for his ability to help raise funds, James Pittar's Shelley Beach Swim is a worthy nominee for the 2012 WOWSA Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year.

2013 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year Award

The Bering Strait Swim was selected as the 2013 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year in a global poll managed by the World Open Water Swimming Association.

Bering Strait Swim

Relay Members in Bering Strait Swim:

SWIMMERS
1. Vladimir Chegorin, Russia
2. Maria Chizhova, Novosibirsk, Russia
3. Elena Guseva, Russia
4. Ram Barkai, Cape Town, South Africa
5. Jack Bright, UK
6. Oksana Veklich, Blagoveshchensk, Russia
7. Aleksandr Jakovlevs, Jelgava, Latvia (Starter,Swimmer,Navigator)
8. Matías Ola, Buenos Aires /Tucuman Argentina
9. Henri Kaarma, Tallinn, Estonia
10. Toomas Haggi, Tallinn, Estonia
11. Nuala Moore, Ireland
12. Anne Marie Ward, Donegal, Ireland
13. Toks Viviers, Cape Town, South Africa
14. Melissa O’Reilly (‘Mo’), Lambertville, New Jersey, USA
15. Ryan Stramrood, Cape Town, South Africa
16. Cristian Vergara, Santiago, Chile
17. Craig Lenning, Colorado, USA
18. Rafał Ziobro, Krakow, Poland
19. Andrew Chin, Cape Town, South Africa
20. Jackie Cobell, Tunbridge Wells, UK
21. James Pittar, Australia
22. Paolo Chiarino, Italy
23. Mariia Yrjö-Koskinen, Finland
24. Ivan Papulshenko, Ukraine
25. Zdenek Tlamicha, Czech Republic
26. Zhou Hanming, China
27. Oleg Adamov, Russia
28. Andrei Agarkov, Russia
29. Alekseev Semen, Russia
30. Tatiana Alexandrova, Russia
31. Roman Belan, Russia (Swimmer & Starter)
32. Elena Semenova, Russia
33. Alexander Brylin, Russia
34. Afanasii Diackovskii, Russia
35. Vladimir Nefatov, Russia (Swimmer and Chief Starter)
36. Evgenii Dokuchaev, Russia
37. Oleg Docuckaev, Russia (Swimmer and Chief Organiser)
38. Roman Efimov, Russia
39. Dmitrii Filitovich, Russia
40. Olga Filitovich, Russia (Swimmer & Starter/helper)
41. Victor Godlevskiy, Russia (Swimmer, Starter/helper)
42. Olga Golubeva, Russia
43. Alexei Golubkin, Russia
44. Alexander Golubkin, Russia (Youngest Swimmer at 13 yrs old)
45. Alexsandr Iurkov, Russia (Starter, Swimmer, Navigator)
46. Oleg Ivanov, Russia
47. Pavel Kabakov, Russia Swimmer, starter, navigator
48. Eduard Khodakovskiy, Russia
49. Aleksandr Komarov, Russia
50. Aleksandr Kuliapin, Russia
51. Andrey Kuzmin, Russia
52. Irina Lamkina, Russia
53. Vladimir Litvinov, Russia
54. Andrey Mikhalev, Russia
55. Victor Moskvin, Russia
56. Nikolay Petshak, Russia
57. Sergey Popov, Russia
58. Vladimir Poshivailov, Russia
59. Grigorii Prokopchuk, Russia
60. Dmitrii Zalka, Russia
61. Natalia Seraya, Russia
62. Viacheslav Shaposhnikov, Russia
63. Olga Sokolova, Russia
64. Andrei Sychev, Russia
65. Alexei Tabakov, Russia
66. Nataliia Usachaeva, Russia
CREW
67. Nikolay Khitrik, Russia (Organiser)
68. Lurii Melnikov, Russia (Organiser)
69. Sergei Chernukhin, Russia (Organiser)
70. Irina Makarova, Russia (Interpreter, Starter, helper)
71. Alexey Svistunov, Russia (President of Russian Book of Records)
72. Rafael Valdes Mendosa, Russian (Interpreter, Starter)
73. Evgeny Novazheev, Russia(Kite surfer)
74. Denis Berezhnoy, Russia (Kite surfer)
75. Sergey Semenov, Russia (kite surfer)
76. Mariia Netrebenko, Russia (mass media representative)
77. Viktor Muzhetckii, Russia (cameraman)
78. Vladislav Bochkovskii, Russia (mass media representative)
79. Vladislav Bykov, Russia (cameraman)
80. Dmitrii Timofeev, Russia (research team)
81. Victoria Brylin, Russia (recovery team)
82. Nataliya Fatyanova, Russia (Head of medical group)
83. Irina Zhidkova, Russia (doctor)
84. Aleksandr Gremitskikh, Russia (Chief Judge)
85. Krutikov Konstantin, Russia (mass media representative)
86. Gavriil Ugarov, Russia (research crew)
87. Denis Kabakov, Russia (support crew)
88. Kiriil Zaika, Russia (support crew)
89. Natalia Yael Szydlowski, Argentina (nutritionist)
90. Paolo Adolfo Testa, Argentina (coach)
91. Carlos Eduardo Reges, Argentina (doctor)
92. Anibal Ariel Calderon, Argentina (cameraman)
93. Guillermo Gallishaw, Argentina (cameraman)
94. Alasdair Ross McCulloch, South Africa (cameraman)
CREW OF IRTYSH HOSPITAL SHIP
95. Yason Demeev, Russia (Chief of Hospital)
96. Oleg Revutskiy, Russia (surgeon)
97. Vyacheslav Grigoryev, Russia (traumatologist)
98. Valeriy Koshkin, Russia (dermatologist)
99. Svetlana Gulenkova, Russia (stomatologist)
100. Inna Lesnova, Russia (therapeutist)
101. Vladimir Savinskiy, Russia (doctor of functional diagnostics)
102. Sergey Demyanenko, Russia (Doctor of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics)
103. Sergey Milovanov, Russia (anesthesiologist)
104. Denis Yakushin, Russia (anesthesiologist)
105. Georgiy Feodoridi, Russia (neurosurgeon)
106. Igor Rogushin, Russia (opthamologist)
107. Yuriy Obraztsov, Russia (infectionist)
108. Oleg Fartushin, Russia (radiologist)
109. Elena Ionova, Russia (pharmacist)
110. Larisa Popova, Russia (nurse)
111. Svetlana Demenok, Russia (nurse)
112. Galina Domnina, Russia (nurse)
113. Tatyana Bolshakova, Russia (nurse)
114. Svetlana Panidova, Russia (nurse)
115. Maya Surgayeva, Russia (nurse)
116. Ludmila Denisova, Russia (nurse)
117. Valentina Shilova, Russia (nurse)
118. Elena Repula, Russia (nurse)
119. Elena Kukurba, Russia (nurse)
120. Elena Sadovaya, Russia
121. Tatyana Nikolaeva, Russia

2015 World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men

Pittar was named one of the World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men in 2015 by the World Open Water Swimming Association.

2017 World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men

Pittar was 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

Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Honourees

He is a member of the inaugural class of Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame honourees who were inducted on August 2020.

• Jennifer Anderson
• Lauren Arndt
• David Bates
• Clive Berry Rickards
• Kate Brookes-Peterson
• Roger Bruce
• Tamara Bruce
• Richard Campion
• Brendan Capell
• Graeme Carroll
• Cavill Family
• Melissa Cunningham
• William Ford
• Melissa Gorman
• Trent Grimsey
• Christopher Guesdon
• Susanne Guesdon
• Kevin Holtom
• Annette Kellerman
• Tracy Knowles
• John Koorey
• Susie Maroney OAM
• Chloë McCardel
• Linda McGill MBE
• Joseph Mitchell
• Lynton Mortensen
• David O'Brien OAM
• Penny Palfrey
• James Pittar
• Des Renford MBE
• Grant Robinson
• Rottnest Channel Swim Association
• Mark Saliba
• Josh Santacaterina
• Shelley Taylor-Smith
• Gary Toner
• Suzanne Toner

Marathon Swim Stories

He appeared with Shannon House Keegan on Marathon Swim Stories.

External links

• Doug McConnell's Long Swim Amid Half A Million
• Woman, blind man try to become first to make the treacherous crossing
• Man Swims A US Channel
• Disability Swimmer Initiative by International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
• Shannon House Keegan Talks Marathon Swimming Stories
• Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honors James Pittar
• Chris Guesdon Explains About The Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame On WOWSA Live
• Vermont Open Water Swimming Hall of Fame on WOWSA Live
• Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Class Of 2020
• Open Water Swimming
• International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• Marathon Swimming
• Michelle Macy Talks About Her Open Water Journey On WOWSA Live
• Reading, Not Racing. A Library Of Open Water Swimming Books
• Can't Wait To Read Blind Vision
• James Pittar On Inspiring And Helping Others On WOWSA Live
• Blind Vision, James Pittar Making A Huge Difference
• Binge Watching Swimming Over The Last Century
• Mark Rew, Open Water Swimmer Through And Through
• 2019 WOWSA Award Winners Announced
• Travesía Interminable Is 2019 World Open Water Swimming Offering Of The Year
• Gulf Of Finland Relay Is 2019 World Open Water Swimming Performance Of The Year
• Adherbal Treidler de Oliveira Is 2019 World Open Water Swimming Man Of The Year
• Mariel Hawley Dávila Is 2019 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year
• 2019 World Open Water Swimming Man Of The Year Nominees
• 2019 World Open Water Swimming Woman Of The Year Nominees
• 2019 World Open Water Swimming Performance Of The Year Nominees
• 2019 World Open Water Swimming Offering Of The Year Nominees
• 2019 WOWSA Awards Nominees
• 2019 World Open Water Swimming Offering Of The Year Nominees
• The Perfect Open Water Man
• The Perfect Open Water Woman
• Blind Vision, James Pittar Making A Difference
• Can't Wait To Read Blind Vision
• Blind Faith In The Open Water
• Patron Pittar
• Visualizing Success In The Open Water
• The Perfect Open Water Man
• The Perfect Ideal Of A Male Swimmer
• 2017 World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men
• The World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men
• Channel Swimming In The Land Of The Rising Sun
• James Pittar
• Blind Swimmer
• Fred Hollows Foundation website
• Swimming with Skyscrapers documentary
• International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame website
• Catalina Channel Swimming Federation website
• Channel Swimming Association website
• NYC Swim bio
• Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming website
• Open Water Swimming
• Oceans Seven List - September 2012
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• James Pittar, Shelley Beach Swim
• Five Or More Gets On Rottnest Channel Swim Honour Board
• Alexander Golubkin, Teenager To The Extreme
• Bering Strait Swim Is 2013 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year
• WOWSA Announces Its 2013 Awards
• Mark Rew, Open Water Swimmer Through And Through
• Triple Crowners Showcase Their Fountain Of Youth - Age of Triple Crowners
• Blind Faith In The Open Water
• Patron Pittar
• When Open Water Icons Meet In New York
• 2016 Murray Rose's Malabar Magic Ocean Swim
• Rainbow Club Australia
• Murray Rose's Malabar Magic Ocean Swim
• Murray Rose's Legacy Continues With The Magic
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• Able-Bodied In The Open Water
• Marathon Swimming
• Marathon Swimmers Federation bio