John Muenzer
From Openwaterpedia
John Muenzer swimming in the English Channel between England and France at the age of 47
John Muenzer is a 60-year-old American open water swimmer and a member of the Elgin Blue Wave from Loveland, Ohio.
Swimming Career Highlights
- After training under the world-renowned Doc Counsilman at Indiana University and then breaking a world marathon swimming record in Lake Erie in 1983 at the age of 20, he entered the workforce and raised 7 children.
- He is a member of the 24-hour club. On 19 August 1983 on his third attempt (after attempting in 1981 and July 1982 when he was pulled from the water with hypothermia), Muenzer swam 54.7 km across Lake Erie from Point Pelee, Canada to Cedar Point, Ohio in 24 hours 12 minutes to break the record set by International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer Dr. Harry Briggs who first set the record swimming 32 miles from Canada to Ohio in the USA in 35 hours 55 minutes. On the shore of Cedar Point, a plaque commemorates his accomplishment.
- On 18 April 2009, he finished 4th in the 37 km Tampa Bay Marathon Swim in Florida in 12 hours 7 minutes at the age of 47.
- On 21 July 2009, he completed a 33.5 km crossing of the English Channel from England to France in 13 hours 12 minutes 2 seconds at the age of 47.
- On 25 August 2018, he finished 8th in the 45.9 km 20 Bridges Manhattan Island Swim in New York City in 9 hours 22 minutes 31 seconds at the age of 57.
- He was a member of The University of Toledo swim team from 1979 to 1983, finishing 4th in both the 1,650 and 500-yard freestyle events at the 1983 MAC Championships.
- He set four individual event records and was a member of three record-setting relay teams during his collegiate career.
- He was recognized by Governor Celeste as an example of commitment and effort of the youth of Ohio.
- On 3 August 2022, he completed a 10 hour 15 minute 47 second 32.2 km crossing of the Catalina Channel from Doctor's Cove on Santa Catalina Island to Smuggler's Cove on Palos Verdes Peninsula on the Southern California mainland to achieve the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming and to become the oldest person to complete the Grand Slam of Open Water Swimming at the age of 60, called the Mega Swim. The swim was partly held in rough water that ranged in temperature between 63-69°F.
24-Hour Swim
"I swam 36 miles in 24 hours and 12 minutes," recalled Muenzer. "It was August 18th and 19th in 1983. The day before my swim, a father and his daughter drowned off the starting point. The Canadian government with the help of Congresswoman Marci Kaptur worked it out that they would let me do the swim if I started up farther on the Point Pelee Peninsula. I wasn't able to do any other swims because I got married and had seven kids. So, I'm hoping to do 10-12 swims that have been in my bucket list. Time will tell."
External links
- From Potato Chips to Duck, Feeding Marathon Swimmers
- A Marathon Swimming Inflection Point: New York City, June 2011
- Don Van Cleve, The Picasso Of The Pacific
- The Muenzer Family - Mega Logistics At Play Across The Catalina Channel
- Marathon Muenzer Goes Mega
- John Muenzer, Swimming University of Toledo
- Absolutely Incredible. Letitia Sweitzer On Harry Briggs On WOWSA Live
- Gotta Keep Your Discipline, John Muenzer And Ned Denison On WOWSA Live
- John Muenzer With Ned Denison On WOWSA Live
- Maumee native Muenzer makes Channel crossing dream come true
- Former Rocket swimmer channels efforts to reach lifetime goal
- John Muenzer blog
- Elgin Blue Wave swim team website
- Open Water Swimming website
- Survival Swimming In The Outer Limits
- John Muenzer, Picking Up Where He Left Off
- New York Open Water 20 Bridges Results
- World Open Water Swimming Association
- Open Water Swimming
- Marathon Swimming
- They Came, They Swam, They Finished...Around Manhattan
- Potato Chip Feedings by John Muenzer
- Tasting Love In The Open Water
- Doug McConnell Digs Deep vs. A Zillion Little Barbs
- 24-hour Club…Swimming All Day And Night
- Do You Krave GU Or Maxim?
- What Have You Eaten In The Open Water?
- Updated 24-Hour Club
- 24-hour Club…Swimming All Day And Night
- Swimming For More Than 24 Hours
- Marathon Swimmers Federation bio
- They Came, They Swam, They Finished...Around Manhattan
