Joel Matos
Joel Matos Ortíz is a 36-year-old Aquatic Therapist and an open water swimmer from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Contents
Education and Licenses
He received his education in the Public System of Puerto Rico, including the University of Puerto Rico (Rio Piedras Campus), in which he graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Recreational Therapy. He holds a Master Degree in Gerontology, and a Postgraduate Degree in Aquatic Therapy. Aquatic therapy is his specialty; he is an Instructor of CPR/AED/First Aid and Water Safety, with the American Red Cross and a Lifeguard Instructor with the United States Lifesaving Association. He has been a certified lifeguard since the age of 15.
Open Water Swimming Highlights
- On 16 August 2025, he completed a 35 km crossing of the North Channel from Northern Ireland to Scotland in 13 hours 36 minutes 22 seconds at the age of 37, the first for the country of Puerto Rico.
- On 26 March 2025, he completed a 23 km crossing of the Cook Strait from South Island to North Island in 7 hours 48 minutes in a tandem swim with Virgilio Graco Morlan.
- He completed a 50-mile, 4-island, 2-day stage swim called Swim Across The Caribbean on 25-26 May 2018. The stage swim benefits the Hospital del Niño de Puerto Rico.
- 2018 RSOT Swim Across The Caribbean course stretched from 7 miles from St. John’s to St. Thomas, 35 miles from St. Thomas to Vieques through the night, and then 8 miles from Punta Arenas, Vieques to Ceiba, Puerto Rico, swum in 2018. His team included Randy Soler (coach, swim organizer, paddler, nutrition), Carlos Alsina (lifeguard), Jorge Ballester (photographer/videographer), Ronney Robles (escort pilot), Aracelis Torres (observer) and Eli E. Nieves (massage therapist).
- 2019 RSOT Swim Across The Caribbean course stretched from Jost Van Dyk to Puerto Rico where Matos completed a 92 km sea swim in 47 hours 6 minutes 25 seconds from Jost Van Dyk in the British Virgin Islands to Ceiba, Puerto Rico on 24 May 2019. His team is organized by coach, paddler and nutritionist Randy Soler.
- On 24 June 2017, he completed the Swim Around Key West in Key West, Florida at the age of 29.
- He completed the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming in 27 days, coached by Randy Soler.
- On 16 July 2021, he completed a 32.3 km crossing of the Catalina Channel from Santa Catalina Island to the Southern California mainland at the age of 33 in 11 hours 56 minutes 0 seconds.
- On 25 July 2021, he completed the 45.9 km 20 Bridges circumnavigation swim around Manhattan Island in New York.
- On 12 August 2021, he completed a 33.5 km crossing of the English Channel from England to France in 13 hours 46 minutes to achieve the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming in 27 days. He was awarded Swimmer from a New Country from the Channel Swimming Association.
Top 10 Swimmers with the Fastest Time to Achieve the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming
1. Joel Matos Ortiz (Puerto Rico) 27 days
2. Patrick McKnight (USA) 34 days
3. Rendy Lynn Opdycke (USA) 35 days
4. Victoria Cox (Australia) 64 days
5. David Barra (USA) 81 days
6. Miguel Guillermo Campero Garcia (Mexico) 82 days
7. Dina Levačić (Czech Republic) 84 days
7. Elizabeth Almond (USA) 84 days
9. Lynton Mortensen (Australia) 89 days
10. Antonio Argüelles (Mexico) 92 days (br/>
2021 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year Nomination
He was nominated for the 2021 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year Award by the World Open Water Swimming Association. The winners and nominees include:
Winner: Paul Georgescu (Romania)
First Runner-up: Neil Agius (Malta)
Second Runner-up: Joel Matos Ortiz (Puerto Rico)
4. Josef Köberl (Austria)
5. Dr. Jaiprakash Duble (India)
6. Pablo Fernández Álvarez (Spain)
7. Stève “Seal” Stievenart (France)
8. Simon Griffiths (Great Britain)
9. Bogusław Ogrodnik (Poland)
10. Joseph Zemaitis (USA)
11. Damián Blaum (Argentina)
12. Florian Wellbrock (Germany)
13. Stéphane Lecat (France)
14. Kristóf Rasovszky (Hungary)
15. Andre Slade (Australia)
External links
- Matthew Moseley Reflecting on Words on Water
- Between Jellyfish and Fears: My Journey Across The North Channel
- Entre Medusas y Miedos: Mi travesía en el Canal del Norte
- Graco Morlan and Joel Matos Join Together on an Oceans Seven Journey
- Marathon Swimmers Federation bio
- Jaime Lomelín Gavaldón's Oceans Seven Quest: 5 Down, 2 To Go
- Joel Matos Strokes for Inclusion in Puerto Rico
- Paul Georgescu is a WOWSA Award Winner: 2021 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year
- Swim of the Week Winners [November 1-7]
- Crossings Continue In The Catalina Channel
- Joel Matos Ortiz Takes 27 Days to Complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming
- Joel Matos Completes Fast Turnaround Of The Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming
- Joel Matos To Attempt #50x25
- Back And Forth To Get Across And Around
- Swim Across The Caribbean
- World Open Water Swimming Association
- Joel Matos To Swim 50 Miles Between 4 Islands
- RSOT - Swim Across The Caribbean
- 100 km In The RSOT Swim Across The Caribbean
- Joel Matos Ortiz To Start Swim Across Caribbean
- Joel Matos Ortiz Does Caribbean Century Swim In 47 Hours
