Sandra Bucha
Sandra Bucha was a world-class sprinter and professional marathon swimmer. Together with John Kinsella and coached by Don Watson, Bucha won the 24 Heures La Tuque in 1974 and appeared on the cover of Swimming World Magazine in the December 1969 issue. She was inducted by the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honour Swimmer in the Class of 2014 and as an Honor Open Water Swimmer in the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2013.
Contents
Accolades
Donna Lopiano, Ph.D., former president of the Women's Sport Foundation, writes of Bucha, "Between 1973 and 1975, Sandra was the female winner in the nine professional marathon races she entered.
At that time, marathon swimming was a single gender sport. During her professional marathon swimming career, no female was able to challenge her title as the #1 marathon swimmer in the world. Only three males finished ahead of her in her in nine marathon races. As a principal in a successful lawsuit against the Illinois High School Association, this legal action resulted in the initiation of girls’ sports programs and state interscholastic championships for girls in the State of Illinois. Her actions as a social justice advocate affected the opportunities of thousands of girls to participate in swimming and other sports. The energy and enthusiasm she brought to her swimming career and initial social justice efforts continued as she graduated from Stanford University with honors as an undergraduate and earned her Doctor of Law degree at Indiana University. Her career as a champion athlete and record as a conscientious citizen have been exemplary."
Professional Legal Career
Bucha received her B.A.. in History, with distinction, from Stanford University in 1976 and her J.D. from Indiana University in 1979. A former prosecutor and public defender, Bucha focuses on personal injury and criminal and medical malpractice litigation. She is admitted to practice in Wisconsin, Illinois and Florida, is a member of the bar in Wisconsin, Illinois and Florida.
She is a member of the Federal District Court trial bars for the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois and the Eastern District of Wisconsin, as well as a member or The Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, and The American Bar Association.
Professional Marathon Swimming Career
From 1974 to 1975 as she was studying at Stanford University, Bucha embarked on an unprecedented professional marathon swimming career where she completed 9 swims and finished first in all 9 races with six 2nd-place overall finishes. She was recognized by the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honour Swimmer in its Class of 2013.
- 1974 Chicago Lake Front 10-mile professional marathon swim: 1st woman, 2nd overall (to Johan Schans)
- 1974 Chicago Lake Front 10-mile professional marathon swim: 1st woman, 2nd overall (to John Kinsella)
- 1974 24 Heures La Tuque 24-hour non-stop relay with John Kinsella: 1st place in new world record
- 1974 Traversee Internationale du Lac St-Jean: 1st woman, 3rd overall to John Kinsella and Veljko Rogošić
- 1974 Laval 10-mile professional marathon swim: 1st woman, 2nd overall to John Kinsella
- 1975 Chicago Lake Front 10-mile professional marathon swim: 1st woman, 2nd overall (to John Kinsella)
- 1975 24 Heures La Tuque 24-hour non-stop relay with John Kinsella: 1st place
- 1975 Traversee Internationale du Lac St-Jean: 1st woman, 2nd overall to John Kinsella
- 1975 Laval 10-mile professional marathon swim: 1st woman, 2nd overall to John Kinsella
Pool Swimming Career
- 1971 National Senior AAU Long Distance Swimming Championships, Huntington, Indiana: 1st place
- 1972 200m Freestyle American Record in 2:08.5
- 1972 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials: 7th place (100m freestyle), 8th place (200m freestyle)
- numerous national age-group records and finalist in a number of National Senior AAU Swimming Championships
International Swimming Hall of Fame
1975 24 Heures La Tuque Results
1. Sandra Bucha + John Kinsella: 191 tours
2. Magdy Mandour + Marawan Ghazzawi: 181 tours
3. Maher Saleh + Marwan Saleh: 180 tours
4. Ossama Rashad + Amed Youssef: 177 tours
5. Jennifer Anderson + Richard Campion: 169 tours
6. James Stewart + Baher Hamid: 162 tours
7. Sahar Mansour + Diana Nyad: 161 tours
8. Jacques Fordham + Daniel Piché: 135 tours
9. Yvon Montpetit + Georges Blazy: 133 tours
10. Gilles Potvin + Raymond Cusson: 109 tours
Amateurs: Johanne Thomson + Jocelyn Dufort + Michael Dumond + Jean Boudreault: 180 tours
External links
- 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 1960's
- The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 1950's
- Say It Ain’t So, Brent Rutemiller
- Looking Up Into The Sky For Energy At 24 Heures La Tuque
- Let Equality Ring, Cashing In On A College Scholarship
- The State of Female Opportunities In Sport In The U.S.
- A Possible Future For American Female Collegiate Athletic Opportunities
- The State of Female Opportunities In Sport In The U.S.
- Dennis Matuch On The 1975 WPMSF Pro Rankings
- Sandra Bucha Talks About Seeking Opportunities On WOWSA Live
- The Perfect Open Water Woman
- The Perfect Open Water Man
- Swimming World Magazine covers
- Kerscher & Bucha Law Offices
- Sports Illustrated on 24 Heures La Tuque
- Sandra Bucha, A Cog In The Machine
- Sandra Bucha Stands Out And Stands Tall
- Round And Round They Swam 24 Hours In 15°C
- Don Watson To Be Honoured In Cork
- 2014 International Marathon Swimming Hall Of Fame Honourees
- Energy And Enthusiasm Of Sandra Bucha Continues
- Sandra Bucha Inducted In International Marathon Swimming Hall Of Fame
- What Goes Around Comes Around
- ISHOF Honor Bestowed On Sandra Bucha
- ISHOF Honor Bestowed On Jon Erikson
- Judith van Berkel-de Njis Elected To Swimming Hall Of Fame
- Dale Petranech Voted In Internat'l Swimming Hall Of Fame
- Claudio Plit Voted In International Swimming Hall Of Fame
- David Yudovin Voted In International Swimming Hall Of Fame
- International Swimming Hall Of Fame Open Water Greats
- Mercedes Gleitze Honoured By Swimming Hall Of Fame
- George Young Voted In International Swimming Hall Of Fame
- St. Ninian's Bay To Host International Swim Celebration
- Joining In Sea Goddess At Hall Of Fame
- Mercedes Gleitze To Be Honored In Scotland
- Sandra Bucha Inducted In ISHOF
- Historical Revolution: The Feminine Code Of Achievement
- Crème de la Crème Of The Open Water World
- International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
- International Swimming Hall of Fame
- Our Good Man Watson
- The Continuing Legacy Of Don Watson
- When Sandra Bucha, Jon Erikson Entered The ISHOF
- Inequality In The Open Water, Part 1
- Heroes And Heroines From Hinsdale
- Leaving A Legacy After Swimming In Sydney
- Open Water Swimming Dual Inductees And Dual Honorees
