Leslie Thomas
Leslie Thomas is the founder, visionary and head coach of Swim Art. A native Californian, she has lived in Pennsylvania, New York, and Germany. She has a degree in Biology from Bryn Mawr College and worked in academic publishing for nine years. She offers year-round open water swimming programs in San Francisco Bay and beyond.
Open Water Swimming Highlights
- She completed the 26.4 km Lake Zurich Marathon Swim in 9 hours 36 minutes in 2000.
- She won the Tampa Bay Marathon Swim in Florida in June 2005.
- She escorted a friend on a 33.5 km English Channel crossing in October 2005.
- She completed the Tampa Bay Marathon Swim in Florida in 2007.
- She escorted a friend on the 45.9 km Manhattan Island Marathon Swim in June 2007.
- She completed the 19.7 km Rottnest Channel Swim in Western Australia in 7 hours 6 minutes in 2008.
- She completed the 18.4 km FKCC Swim Around Key West in Florida in 6 hours 57 minutes in 2009.
- She completed the 17 km Portland Bridge Swim in Oregon in 4 hours 59 minutes in 2012.
- She is a certified USA Triathlon Level 1 coach.
- She served as the head swim coach for the See Jane Run all-women triathlon team for five years.
- She served as a coach and weekend workshop leader for Total Immersion for six years.
- Under the Swim Art brand, she holds weekly group open water swims, instructional clinics, and special Expedition swims in different locations.
Mission
Because swimming is an art, it is an easy and gentle form of exercise. It offers great peace of mind and excellent physical health. It is relaxing and easy on your body. It is a necessary part of completing a triathlon. And swimming is something you can do for the rest of your life.
Swim Art is a professional guiding company. It does all of the safe and legal things to run swims in the Bay: Coast Guard permits; escort motor boats and kayaks; safe boat-to-swimmer coverage; best tides and jump times according to the tide book.
Videos
