Ultraswimming Awards

From Openwaterpedia

noun - The Ultraswimming Awards recognize the most outstanding achievements and contributions in marathon swimming. The awards are nominated and voted by members of the Marathon Swimmers Federation. Voting is open via the MSF Member Portal. The Awards include the Solo Swim of the Year that recognizes the most outstanding solo marathon swim and Yudovin Award for Most Adventurous Swim, recognizing the most adventurous swim of the year.

Contents

Solo Swim of the Year Criteria

  • Solo
  • Unassisted
  • Ratified by MSF or a MSF-recognized local sanction organization for the course

Yudovin Award for Most Adventurous Swim Criteria

  • Solo
  • Unassisted
  • Ratified by MSF or a MSF-recognized local sanction organization for the course
  • Unprecedented (must be the first known swim of the route)

2025 Solo Swim of the Year Finalists

  • Brian Foster (Ireland) for an unprecedented three-way 61.5 km Baltimore-Fastnet-Baltimore crossing in 15 hours 48 minutes in August, ratified by ILDSA
  • Karina Garcia (USA) for a 44.3 km course record from Santa Rosa Island to California mainland crossing in 14 hours 5 minutes in September, ratified by SBCSA
  • Victor Pineiro (Argentina) for an unprecedented 56.3 km Isle of Man to Ireland crossing in 26 hours 48 minutes in August 2025, ratified by ILDSA
  • Andreas Waschburger (Germany) for a 34.5 km North Channel course record from Ireland to Scotland in 8 hours 11 minutes in September, ratified by ILDSA
  • Kaname Woodfield (Japan) for a 26.8 km Green Island to Cairns, Australia crossing in 10 hours 55 minutes in August 2025, ratified by MSF

2025 Yudovin Award for Most Adventurous Swim Finalists

  • Sarah Dobbin (Canada) in the Ottawa River, Canada for a 50.4 km crossing from Parliament Hill to Wendover in 15 hours 55 minutes on 21 August 2025, ratified by MSF
  • Leslie Hamilton (USA) in Lake Norman, North Carolina, USA for a 42.3 km crossing from Highway 70 Bridge to Blythe Landing Boat Ramp (42.3 km) in 14 hours 48 minutes on 6-7 October 2025, ratified by MSF
  • Stephanie Montero Bending (Mexico) from 42.8 km Isla Isabel National Park to Marismas Nacionales Biosphere Reserve, Mexico in 15 hours 37 minutes on 2-3 May, ratified by MSF
  • Karen Zemlin (USA) in Lake Superior 22.9 km from Isle Royale to Pigeon Point in 6 hours 12 minutes on 13 August 2025, ratified by MSF

2012 Ultraswimming Award Winners & Finalists

Solo Swim of the Year Winners

Solo Swim of the Year Finalists - Female

Solo Swim of the Year Finalists - Male

Barra Award Winner

  • Grace van der Byl (USA) for a new Catalina Channel overall solo record in 7 hours 27 minutes, first swimmer to complete all seven stages of the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim, and new course records in all seven stages. Organized new local network of support personnel for Catalina Channel swimmers.

Barra Award Finalists

2013 Ultraswimming Award Winners & Finalists

Solo Swim of the Year Winners

Solo Swim of the Year Finalists - Female

Solo Swim of the Year Finalists - Male

Barra Award Winner

  • Sarah Thomas (USA) for first two-way lake crossings of Lake Tahoe and Lake Memphremagog; Tahoe 68km in 22 hours 35 minutes at 6,200 feet elevation + Memphremagog 80.5km in 30 hours 1 minute, only six weeks after Tahoe. Additionally Arizona S.C.A.R. Swim Challenge - Saguaro (9.5 miles in 3 hours 13 minutes) + Canyon (9 miles in 2 hours 51 minutes) + Apache (16 miles in 5 hours 22 minutes) + Roosevelt (10 km in 2 hours 38 minutes)
  • Darren Miller (USA) for Cook Strait in 10 hours 42 minutes and North Channel in 11 hours 16 minutes. First American man to complete Oceans Seven and first to complete all seven in seven attempts. Arizona S.C.A.R. Swims: Apache Lake (16 miles in 6 hours 20 minutes) + Roosevelt Lake (10 km in 3 hours 9 minutes), pioneered the Three Rivers Marathon Swim and supported major training swims for Janet Manning, Jim Clifford, and Bill Shipp. Founder and Executive Director of Team Forever and the Forever Fund, a charitable organization benefiting the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Barra Award Finalists - Female

  • Anna Wardley (UK) for Cabrera Channel (27 km in 12 hours 24 minutes, first non-wetsuit crossing), Round Jersey (41 miles in 11 hours 53 minutes), Round Isle of Wight (60 miles in 26 hours 33 minutes, fourth person, Round Tiree attempt. Her Five Island Challenge includes two swims from 2012.
  • Anna-Carin Nordin (Sweden) for Cook Strait in 8 hours 17 minutes, North Channel in 14 hours 21 minutes). First woman to complete [Oceans Seven]]
  • Kimberley Chambers (USA) for Molokai Channel in 19 hours 27 minutes, Strait of Gibraltar in 4 hours 39 minutes, Catalina Channel in 11 hours 26 minutes, English Channel in 12 hours 12 minutes
  • Sarah Thomas (USA) for first two-way lake crossings of Lake Tahoe and Lake Memphremagog; Tahoe 68km in 22 hours 35 minutes at 6,200 feet elevation + Memphremagog 80.5km in 30 hours 1 minute, only six weeks after Tahoe. Additionally Arizona SCAR Swim Challenge - Saguaro (9.5 miles in 3 hours 13 minutes) + Canyon (9 miles in 2 hours 51 minutes) + Apache (16 miles in 5 hours 22 minutes) + Roosevelt (10 km in 2 hours 38 minutes)

Barra Award Finalists - Male

  • Darren Miller (USA) for Cook Strait in 10 hours 42 minutes and North Channel in 11 hours 16 minutes. First American man to complete Oceans Seven and first to complete all seven in seven attempts. Arizona S.C.A.R. Swims: Apache Lake (16 miles in 6 hours 20 minutes) + Roosevelt Lake (10 km in 3 hours 9 minutes), pioneered the Three Rivers Marathon Swim and supported major training swims for Janet Manning, Jim Clifford, and Bill Shipp. Founder and Executive Director of Team Forever and the Forever Fund, a charitable organization benefiting the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
  • John Walker (USA) for Catalina Channel in 12 hours 13 minutes, Lake Tahoe lengthwise in 13 hours 33 minutes, English Channel in 14 hours 13 minutes; 3 major swims in 11 weeks
  • Mo Siegel (USA) for Cape Cod Bay crossing (19 miles in 12 hours 32 minutes, sixth person ever). Arizona S.C.A.R. Swims and 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim stages. Tsugaru Channel attempt. Cold Water Challenge 2.6 miles in 55°F

2014 Ultraswimming Award Winners & Finalists

Solo Swim of the Year Winners

  • Chloe McCardel (Australia) for a 124.4 km unprecedented swim from South Eleuthera Island to Nassau, Bahamas in 41 hours 21 minutes. New world record for the longest unassisted ocean swim
  • Craig Lenning (USA) for the first solo swim from the Farallon Islands to the California mainland since 1967, 41.4 km in 15 hours 47 minutes on 8 April

Solo Swim of the Year Finalists - Female

  • Chloe McCardel (Australia) for a 124.4 km unprecedented swim from South Eleuthera Island to Nassau, Bahamas in 41 hours 21 minutes. New world record for the longest unassisted ocean swim
  • Charlotte Samuels (USA) for a 32.2 km Catalina Channel swim in 20 hours 20 minutes on 4 August, sanctioned by CCSF
  • Susan Simmons (Canada) for a 68 km unprecedented two-way crossing of Lake Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada in 33 hours

Solo Swim of the Year Finalists - Male

  • Bob Fernald (USA) for a English Channel crossing in 10 hours 50 minutes on 22 July, sanctioned by the CS&PF
  • Craig Lenning (USA) for the first solo swim from the Farallon Islands to the California mainland since 1967, 41.4 km in 15 hours 47 minutes on 8 April
  • Otto Thaning (South Africa) for being the oldest (73 years) to swim the English Channel, 33.8 km in 12 hours 53 minutes on 6 September, sanctioned by CS&PF

Barra Award Winners

  • Charlotte Samuels (USA) for being the youngest person (16 years) to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, Manhattan Island Marathon Swim in 9 hours 55 minutes on 28 June, Catalina Channel in 20 hours 20 minutes on 4 August, English Channel in 20 hours 44 minutes on 8 September
  • Mo Siegel (USA) for his Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge Swims, Arizona S.C.A.R. Swim Challenge (Saguaro, Canyon, and Apache), 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim (Stages 3 and 4), Manhattan Island Marathon Swim two-person relay, Boston Light Swim, Swim Across The Sound, Skaneateles Lake (16 miles in 9 hours 21 minutes, Lake Willoughby in Vermont, Manhattan Island Marathon Relays, and Coney Island Triple Dip.

Barra Award for Most Impressive Overall Year Finalists - Female

  • Emma France (UK) for a second English Channel crossing in 12 hours 58 minutes, Round Jersey swim in 11 hours 46 minutes, 3-person channel relay, solo English Channel attempt (10 hours before being pulled), manages bookings for CS&PF boat, regular Dover beach crew member
  • Elaine Howley (USA) for an unprecedented 52 km crossing of Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho. Articles for USMS SWIMMER magazine, H2Open Magazine, and espnW. Co-race directed Boston Light Swim. VP and observer for MOWSA, and co-authored MSF Rules of Marathon Swimming
  • Charlotte Samuels (USA) for being the youngest person (16 years) to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming

Barra Award for Most Impressive Overall Year Finalists - Male

  • Anthony McCarley (USA) for an unprecedented three-way crossing of Pillsbury Sound, Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, Catalina Channel, 3 Rivers Marathon Swim, Santa Barbara Channel, completed the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming in 11 months 5 days
  • Rohan More (India) for the English Channel in 13 hours 13 minutes, Catalina Channel in 10 hours 17 minutes, Molokai Channel in 17 hours 28 minutes
  • Mo Siegel (USA) for multiple marathon swims including Alcatraz, S.C.A.R., 8 Bridges, Boston Light Swim, Skaneateles Lake, and more.

Service to Marathon Swimming Award Winners

  • Neil van der Byl and Grace van der Byl (USA) for their support of Catalina and Santa Barbara Channel swimmers and founding the Southern California Open-Water Swim Support Network

Service to Marathon Swimming Award Finalists

  • Roger Finch and Tracy Clark (South Africa / New Zealand and the Netherlands) for their tireless back-to-back crewing for Otto Thaning (oldest to swim the English Channel) and Charlotte Samuels (youngest to complete the Triple Crown), with only a few hours’ rest on land in Dover between.
  • Greg O’Connor (USA) for his leadership, as co-race director of the Boston Light Swim and President of the Massachusetts Open Water Swimming Association; and for his frequent volunteer work for Northeast Kingdom open water swimming events
  • Neil van der Byl and Grace van der Byl (USA) for their support of Catalina and Santa Barbara Channel swimmers and founding the Southern California Open-Water Swim Support Network

Yudovin Award for Most Adventurous Swim Winner

  • Peter Hayden (USA) for a 37.7 km Anacapa Island around and back swim, first circumnavigation of Anacapa Island (11 miles in 5 hours 41 minutes, then back to the mainland without stopping (12.4 miles in 6 hours 59 minutes on 3 September, sanctioned by SBCSA

Yudovin Award for Most Adventurous Swim Finalists

  • Patti Bauernfeind (USA) for 40.2 km Monterey Bay crossing in 13 hours 0 minutes on August 26th, second solo Monterey Bay swim, and the first since 1980
  • Katie Benoit (USA) for an unprecedented 33.8 km triple-width crossing of Lake Constance (Bodensee), Germany in 11 hours 40 minutes on August 30th
  • Peter Hayden (USA) for 37.7 km Anacapa Island around and back swim, first circumnavigation of Anacapa Island, then back to the mainland without stopping

2015 Ultraswimming Award Winners & Finalists

Solo Swim of the Year Winners

  • Chloë McCardel (Australia) for a three-way 101.4 km English Channel swim in 36 hours 12 minutes
  • Jason Betley (United Kingdom) for a two-way 64.6 km Catalina Channel swim in 28 hours 10 minutes

Solo Swim of the Year Finalists - Female

  • Chloë McCardel (Australia) for a three-way 101.4 km English Channel swim in 36 hours 12 minutes, first Australian, second woman, fourth overall, and first in 25 years to complete this swim sanctioned and observed by the Channel Swimming Association
  • Jaimie Monahan (USA) for a 69 km lengthwise crossing of Lake Geneva, Switzerland in 32 hours 52 minutes, second woman, second overall, and first in 16 years to complete this swim
  • Kimberley Chambers (USA) for a 47.8 km Farallon Islands to Golden Gate Bridge, California crossing in 17 hours 12 minutes, first woman, third overall to complete this swim
  • Marcy MacDonald (USA) for a 36 km lengthwise crossing of Loch Ness, Scotland in 11 hours 59 minutes, first American to complete this swim
  • Margarita Tita Llorens (Spain) for a 81 km crossing of Mallorca Channel between Mallorca and Ibiza, Spain in 28 hours 11 minutes, first person to complete this crossing on her third attempt

Solo Swim of the Year Finalists - Male

  • Andrew Malinak (USA) for a 16.8 km crossing of Strait of Juan de Fuca (British Columbia, Canada to Washington, USA in 6 hours 59 minutes, fastest crossing, first successful since 1989, and seventh overall
  • Bill Shipp (USA) for a 32.3 km Catalina Channel crossing in 11 hours 47 minutes, sanctioned and observed by Catalina Channel Swimming Federation
  • David Barra (USA) for a 61.1 km lengthwise crossing of Cayuga Lake, New York in 23 hours 26 minutes
  • Jason Betley (United Kingdom) for a two-way 64.6 km Catalina Channel crossing in 28 hours 10 minutes, oldest to complete a two-way, and first since 2010

Barra Award for Best Overall Year Winners

  • Bridgette Hobart (USA) for a 19.7 km Rottnest Channel Swim, 251 km stage swim of the 9 Finger Lakes of New York, 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim
  • Craig Lenning (USA) for a 35 km length of Loch Ness, Scotland, first man to swim 45 km length of Flathead Lake, Montana, 40 km Lake Memphremagog, Vermont, 24-Hour Relay in San Francisco, International Ice Swimming Championship 1000m swim. Crew and mentor to numerous marathon swimmers.
  • Mark Sheridan (United Kingdom) for English Channel, Catalina Channel. S.C.A.R. Swim, Arizona across Saguaro, Canyon, Apache, Roosevelt lakes, Committee Member and Race Director, British Long Distance Swimming Association. Competed in BLDSA Swims.

Barra Award for Best Overall Year Finalists - Female

  • Bridgette Hobart (USA) for a 19.7 km Rottnest Channel Swim in 8 hours 49 minutes, 251 km stage swim of the 9 Finger Lakes of New York, and all 7 stages of the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim
  • Jaimie Monahan (USA) for 69 km length of Lake Geneva in 32 hours 52 minutes, 36-mile END-WET Swim in 11 hours 56 minutes, Rose Pitonof Swim, swam at 0°C in Antarctica and the Arctic Circle in the same week, Ice Swimming World Championships, represented USA at swim events in multiple countries
  • Sarah Thomas (USA) for 22.2-mile length of Loch Ness in 10 hours 52 minutes, first to swim 28-mile length of Flathead Lake, Montana in 13 hours 45 minutes, 3 Rivers Marathon Swim, END-WET first finisher, 24 Hour Relay, Ice Mile

Barra Award for Best Overall Year Finalists - Male

  • Andrew Malinak (USA) for summer of Bert Thomas swims including Tacoma to Seattle, Bainbridge Island circumnavigation, Strait of Juan de Fuca, 24 Hour Relay, co-founded Northwest Open Water Swimming Association, volunteer observer and crew for numerous solo swims
  • Craig Lenning (USA) for length of Loch Ness in 13 hours 47 minutes, first man to swim length of Flathead Lake, Montana, length of Lake Memphremagog, 24 Hour Relay, International Ice Swimming Championship, crew and mentor to numerous marathon swimmers
  • Mark Sheridan (United Kingdom) for English Channel in 13 hours 32 minutes, Catalina Channel in 12 hours 22 minutes, S.C.A.R. Swim (all 4 stages), Committee Member and Race Director for BLDSA, competed in multiple BLDSA swims

Service to Marathon Swimming Winners

  • Dan Simonelli (USA) for observer, kayaker, and crew for 27 Catalina Channel swims in 2015, crew for one of Chloë McCardel’s English Channel swims, coach and coordinator of youth relay swims of Catalina Channel, English Channel, and Santa Barbara Channel, coach of two solo Catalina swimmers, team Captain, David Yudovin Memorial Catalina Channel Relays, president of the La Jolla Cove Swim Club, lifetime member & voting member of the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation, voting member of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, Founder of the Open Water Swim Academy

Service to Marathon Swimming Award Finalists

  • Craig Lenning (USA) for being a mentor and supporter to numerous marathon swimmers; gave advice, training support, and practical help to aspiring swimmers including Jim Jamik, Sarah Thomas, and Karl Kingery
  • Dan Simonelli (USA) for supporting 27 Catalina Channel swims, coached youth relay teams, president of La Jolla Cove Swim Club, CCSF and IMSHOF voting member, and Founder of Open Water Swim Academy
  • Eileen Burke (USA) for first documented woman to swim across Cape Cod Bay, staple at Boston Light Swim and MIMS, true friend to anyone at Brighton Beach, passed away in October after battle against pancreatic cancer
  • Phil White (USA) for created Kingdom Swim series in Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, made Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom one of the top open water swimming venues in the USA, opens his house to swimmers from all over the world
  • Suzie Dods (USA) for de facto host for marathon swimmers visiting San Francisco, organized 24 Hour Relay and first San Francisco Champion of Champions, led educational sessions for aspiring marathon swimmers. leads Introduction to Bay Swimming class out of the Dolphin Club

Yudovin Award for Most Adventurous Swim Winners

  • Wendy Trehiou (Jersey, United Kingdom) for 56.3 km from St. Malo, France to Jersey, United Kingdom in 24 hours 25 minutes

Yudovin Award for Most Adventurous Swim Finalists

  • Dave Van Mouwerik (USA) for first to swim 23.2 km across Estero Bay, San Luis Obispo County, California in 8 hours 18 minutes, sanctioned and observed by Marathon Swimmers Federation
  • Jen Dutton (USA) for unprecedented A-B-C swim of the full shape of Keuka Lake, New York, 54.7 km from Pen Yan to Hammodsport to Branchport in 22 hours
  • Peter Hayden (USA) for 5-mile circumnavigation of Santa Barbara Island and then without stopping 24 miles to Catalina Island for 46.7 km in 16 hours 48 minutes, second person and first male to circumnavigate Santa Barbara Island; first to swim between Santa Barbara Island and Catalina Island
  • Wendy Trehiou (Jersey, United Kingdom) for 56.3 km crossing from St. Malo, France to Jersey, United Kingdom in 24 hours 25 minutes

Relay of the Year Winners

  • The Old Men and the Sea (USA) for oldest relay team by combined age to swim the 32.3 km Catalina Channel including Bill Spore (80), Dave Radcliff (81), Graham Johnston (84), Robert Beach (84), Bob Best (80), Don Baker (84), Norm Stupfel (82) in 12 hours 15 minutes

Relay of the Year Finalists

  • Arch Academy Zombie Patrol (USA) for an unprecedented 65.8 km swim from Santa Barbara Island to Anacapa Island, California in 27 hours 10 minutes with Team A and Team B members
  • Deep Enders (USA) for an 112.6 km unprecedented swim from San Nicolas Island to Point Vicente, California in 33 hours 37 minutes with Zach Jirkovsky, Jim McConica, John Chung, Stacey Warmuth, Tom Ball, and Tamie Stewart
  • The Old Men and the Sea (USA) for the oldest relay (by combined age) to swim the 32.3 km Catalina Channel in 12 hours 15 minutes

2016 Ultraswimming Award Winners & Finalists

Solo Swim of the Year Winners

  • Sarah Thomas (USA) for 129 km swim in Lake Powell from Bullfrog, Utah to Wahweap, Arizona, the longest known nonstop, solo, unassisted, current-neutral swim in any body of water
  • Howard James (Great Britain) for new record for earliest English Channel swim in the calendar year in 13 hours 13 minutes on 16 May, breaking the previous record of Kevin Murphy on 29 May 1990, he also set the record for latest English Channel swim on 3 November

Solo Swim of the Year Finalists - Female

  • Pat Gallant-Charette (USA) for being the oldest individual (female or male) to complete a solo crossing of the North Channel in 14 hours 22 minutes on 24 August at 65 years 204 days, sanctioned by Irish Long Distance Swimming Association
  • Sally Minty-Gravett, MBE (Jersey) for being the oldest individual (female or male) to complete a two-way crossing of the English Channel in 26 hours 26 minutes on 30 August at 59 years old and the only swimmer to complete English Channel crossings in five different decades.
  • Carol Schumacher Hayden (USA) for being the oldest individual (female or male) to complete a solo swim of the Catalina Channel in 15 hours 2 minutes on 27 September at 66 years old
  • Sarah Thomas (USA) for 129 km swim in Lake Powell from Bullfrog, Utah to Wahweap, Arizona, the longest known nonstop, solo, unassisted, current-neutral swim in any body of water

Solo Swim of the Year Finalists - Male

  • Howard James (United Kingdom) for setting a new record for earliest English Channel swim in the calendar year in 13 hours 13 minutes on 16 May with sea temperature 12°C
  • Christian Jongeneel (Spain) for 57-mile double-circumnavigation of Manhattan Island in 20 hours 15 minutes on 17-18 September
  • Mike Tyson (USA) for 14 km crossing of Lake Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan from Kara-Talaa to Toru-Aygyr in 6 hours 2 minutes on 6 July, first swim of this route

Barra Award for Best Overall Year Winners

  • Jaimie Monahan (USA) for marathon swims in Lake Geneva, Switzerland (69 km from Geneva to Montreux, first to swim in both directions); 50 km in Lake Como, Italy; 52 km in Lake George, New York; 27 km Lago d’Orta, Italy; 30 km around Absecon Island, Atlantic City, New Jersey; 46 km around Manhattan Island; 8 Bridges Stage 7; and the 27 km Rose Pitonof Swim. Also completed a 4.6-mile swim in Lake Titicaca, Bolivia, an Ice Mile in Iceland, and was overall winner of the International Winter Swimming Association's World Cup. Currently serves as President of the Lake Geneva Swimming Association
  • Dan Simonelli (USA) for Catalina Channel on 16 January, the same day as the first Catalina swimmer, George Young and the English Channel on 25 August, coordinator and member of the Out, Around, & Back relay between Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands, member of two Catalina Channel relays, including a new CCSF-record mixed relay, continued extensive work in support of fellow marathon swimmers, kayaked all four days of S.C.A.R. in Arizona, coached the Arch Academy Zombies team on numerous open-water relays, and coached, crewed, and observed for numerous solo swimmers and relays, serves as a voting member of IMSHOF and CCSF, and as President of the La Jolla Cove Swim Club.

Barra Award for Best Overall Year Finalists - Female

  • Caroline Block (USA) for the 11 hour 52 minute English Channel on 14 July. North Channel (14 hours 31 minutes on 1 August ), new record for shortest duration between English Channel and North Channel solo swims at 19 days, 20 Bridges Manhattan Swim in 8 hours 48 minutes on 1 October 1
  • Devon Clifford (USA) for SCAR 66.9 km, 8 Bridges Odyssey DNF stages 2 and 5 due to conditions, Lake Memphremagog Border Buster, Lake George Marathon Swim, Swim Around Charleston, 20 Bridges Manhattan Swim for a total cumulative distance of 379.35 km
  • Chloë McCardel (Australia) for 8 English Channel crossings to set a new single-season record with times ranging from 8 hours 51 minutes to 10 hours 45 minutes
  • Jaimie Monahan (USA) for 20 Bridges Manhattan in 8 hours 13 minutes, Lake Como 50 km in 20 hours 29 minutes, Lake Geneva 69 km in 28 hours 36 minutes, Rose Pitonof, Lake George 52 km in 21 hours 12 minutes, Lago d’Orta, Atlantic City Around the Island, Lake Titicaca, Ice Mile in Iceland, and 2016 IWSA World Cup overall winner

Barra Award for Best Overall Year Finalists - Male

  • Dan Simonelli (USA) for Catalina Channel solo on 16 January, English Channel on 25 August, numerous relays, kayaked 4 days of SCAR, coached Arch Academy Zombies, observer for CCSF and SBCSA, voting member of CCSF and IMSHOF, and President of La Jolla Cove Swim Club
  • Mark Spratt (USA) for Catalina Channel in 10 hours 6 minutes, SCAR stages, 8 Bridges Stage 6, Boston Light Swim equivalent, Skaneateles Lake, Swim to the Moon, Swim the Suck, and numerous other swims
  • Philip Yorke (England) for BLDSA Champion of Champions with broken wrist immobilized, 2-way and 1-way Bala, Windermere twice, Loch Lomond 2nd person to swim it breaststroke, fastest time, coordinated and crewed Aspire EC Relay team, Honorary General Secretary of BLDSA

Service to Marathon Swimming Winners

Service to Marathon Swimming Finalists

  • David Barra, Rondi Davies, and Alex Arevalo of New York Open Water (USA) for founding New York Open Water and initiating 20 Bridges, a new iteration of the historically important Swim Around Manhattan. In its inaugural season, NYOW organized the 6th edition of the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim, the 5th edition of the 2 Bridges Swim, the inaugural Spuyten Duyvil 10K, and 22 solo Manhattan Island circumnavigations over three days. NYOW’s first sanctioned Manhattan swims are particularly notable given the recent uncertainty about the swim’s future
  • Sam Jones (United Kingdom) for first mate/co-skipper on the boat Suva, intervenes when necessary to help swimmers through difficult moments, on-call member of the Dover Lifeboat, selfless source of help, wise words, and advice
  • Roy Malinak (USA) for volunteer support for Hudson River swims for 4+ years, ported kayaks at North Cove for 7 MIMS events, volunteer at 2 Bridges for 5 years, full week volunteer on Launch 5 for 8 Bridges, entirely selfless - not a swimmer himself

2017 Ultraswimming Award Winners & Finalists

Solo Swim of the Year Winner

  • Sarah Thomas (USA) for a 168.3 km swim in Lake Champlain in New York/Vermont, USA, Gardiner Island loop from Rouses Point, New York, ratified by MSF as a new world distance record

Solo Swim of the Year Finalists

  • Daniel Abel (Cook Islands) for first 35 km circumnavigation of Rarotonga, Cook Islands in 13 hours 13 minutes on 13 March 13
  • Caroline Block (USA) for first attempt at a two-way North Channel crossing, completed one-way Ireland to Scotland in 12 hours 38 minutes, abandoned return crossing after 7 hours 48 km total distance on 6 August
  • Catherine Breed (USA) for new record (overall female or male) for a 34 km length-of-lake crossing of Lake Tahoe in 10 hours 18 minutes on 15 August
  • Sarah Thomas (USA) for 168.3 km swim in Lake Champlain in New York/Vermont, USA, Gardiner Island loop from Rouses Point for a new world distance record

Barra Award for Most Prolific Year Winners

  • Abigail Fairman (USA) for SCAR (all 4 stages), 8 Bridges (all 7 stages), Kingdom Swim Border Buster 25K, Rose Pitonof Swim, Lake George 10K, Bender Memorial Swim, 3 Rivers Marathon Swim, Swim Around Charleston, and Bermuda Round-the-Sound
  • Stephen Rouch (USA) for SCAR (all 4 stages), 8 Bridges (all 7 stages), Chattanooga Swim Festival, Kingdom Swim Border Buster 25K, Swim to the Moon, 3 Rivers Marathon Swim, Swim the Suck.

Barra Award for Most Prolific Year Finalists - Female

  • Amy Appelhans Gubser (USA) for SCAR (4 stages), 8 Bridges (7 stages), Lake George 10K, 3 Rivers, North Channel, Swim the Suck, and numerous relay swims
  • Abigail Fairman (USA) for SCAR (all 4 stages), 8 Bridges (all 7 stages), Kingdom Swim Border Buster 25K, Rose Pitonof Swim, Lake George 10K, Bender Memorial Swim, 3 Rivers Marathon Swim, Swim Around Charleston, and Bermuda Round-the-Sound
  • Sandra Frimerman-Bergquist (USA) for END-WET (overall winner for 3rd consecutive year), Kingdom Swim Border Buster, Lac St-Jean, Capri-Napoli, Swim Around Charleston, and Swim the Suck
  • Jaimie Monahan (USA) for Lago Maggiore (first), Lago d’Orta, Rose Pitonof, 20 Bridges Manhattan, Kingdom Swim, Swim Around Charleston, and ice swims in Finland and Norway
  • Courtney Paulk (USA) for SCAR (4 stages), 8 Bridges (7 stages), Lake George, MIMS, and Swim the Suck

Barra Award for Most Prolific Year Finalists - Male

  • John Batchelder (USA) for SCAR (4 stages), 8 Bridges (7 stages), MIMS, Chesapeake Bay Swim, Lake George 10K, Kingdom Swim Border Buster, Swim Around Charleston, and Bermuda Round-the-Sound
  • Lynton Mortensen (Australia) for Rottnest Channel, North Channel, 8 Bridges (7 stages), 20 Bridges Manhattan, Swim Around Charleston, and Bermuda Round-the-Sound
  • Stephen Rouch (USA) for SCAR (all 4 stages), 8 Bridges (all 7 stages), Chattanooga Swim Festival, Kingdom Swim Border Buster 25K, Swim to the Moon, 3 Rivers Marathon Swim, and Swim the Suck

Service to Marathon Swimming Winner

Service to Marathon Swimming Finalists

Yudovin Award for Most Adventurous Swim Winner

  • Jaimie Monahan (USA) for the first unassisted 59.6 km swim of the length of Lago Maggiore, Tenero-Contra, Switzerland to Sesto Calende, Italy in 24 hours 2 minutes, ratified by MSF

Yudovin Award for Most Adventurous Swim Finalists

  • Sydne Didier (USA) for the first 19.3 km circumnavigation of Isla Culebra, Puerto Rico in 6 hours 30 minutes on 11 February
  • Karl Kingery (USA) for first known 9.25 km crossing of Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming in 4 hours 43 minutes on 9 September at 7,733 feet elevation
  • Brian Lanahan (USA) for first 22.5 km circumnavigation of James Island, South Carolina in 6 hours 21 minutes on 20 May
  • Jaimie Monahan (USA) for first 59.6 km unassisted swim of the length of Lago Maggiore in 24 hours 2 minutes

2018 Ultraswimming Award Winners & Finalists

Solo Swim of the Year Winner

  • Cameron Bellamy (South Africa) for the first 90 km circumnavigation of Barbados in 40 hours 46 minutes on 11-13 November 2018, organized and observed by Barbados Amateur Swimming Association

Solo Swim of the Year Finalists

  • Cameron Bellamy (South Africa) for the first 90 km circumnavigation of Barbados in 40 hours 46 minutes on 11-13 November 2018, organized and observed by Barbados Amateur Swimming Association
  • Abhejali Bernardová (Czech Republic) for 67 km two-way English Channel in 24 hours 20 minutes on 26 July
  • Sarah Thomas (USA) for first two-way 92 km crossing of Flathead Lake, Montana in 44 hours 29 minutes on 3-5 August
  • Adam Walker (United Kingdom) for first Molokai Channel swim without a shark cage 42 km in 17 hours 2 minutes on 19 August 19

Barra Award Winner

  • Martyn Webster (Great Britain) for English Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, Lake Zurich (2x), Walensee, Loch Lomond, Loch Awe

Barra Award Finalists

  • John Batchelder (USA) for SCAR (4 stages), 8 Bridges (7 stages), Capri-Napoli, Kingdom Swim, Lake Tahoe length, Lake George, Swim Around Charleston, and Bermuda Round-the-Sound
  • Sandra Frimerman-Bergquist (USA) for END-WET (4th consecutive overall win), Lac St-Jean, Capri-Napoli, Kingdom Swim, Lake George, Swim Around Charleston, and Swim the Suck
  • Stephen Rouch (USA) for SCAR (4 stages), 8 Bridges (7 stages), Kingdom Swim, 3 Rivers, Swim to the Moon, and Swim the Suck
  • Sarah Thomas (USA) for Flathead Lake 2-way (first), Lake Tahoe length, Round-Trip Angel Island, and Blue Mesa Reservoir
  • Martyn Webster (Great Britain) for English Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, Lake Zurich (2x), Walensee, Loch Lomond, and Loch Awe

Service to Marathon Swimming Winner

  • Lynn Kubasek (USA) for observer on 56 marathon swims, supported 25 swimmers as either kayaker or feeder, spent countless hours videotaping, editing and chronicling 84 different marathon swims, served on the board of directors for SBCSA since 2009 and as associate director of Swim Camp Catalina and Swim Camp Mexico since 2014, co-founded Laguna Beach Open Water Swimmers which grew from 3 swimmers in 1987 to over 350 swimmers, made over 9000 bars of soap as gifts for swimmers

Service to Marathon Swimming Finalists

Yudovin Award Winner

Yudovin Award Finalists

  • Colleen Blair (Great Britain) for first 37.3 km North Minch swim in 18 hours 46 minutes on 8 July 2018, from Isle of Lewis to mainland Scotland, ratified by British Long Distance Swimming Association
  • Ryan Stramrood (South Africa) for first crossing of the 86 km Bering Strait relay with 4 swimmers from Cape Dezhnev, Russia to Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska
  • Mike Humphreys (USA) for first 12 km crossing of Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Homer Spit to Halibut Cove in 4 hours 35 minutes on 4 August

Monahan Award Winner

  • Caroline Block (USA) for maximum eight swims in four years: English Channel, 20 Bridges (Manhattan), Lake George, Cayuga Lake, Santa Barbara Channel (Santa Rosa Island to Goleta), and 3 North Channel swims

Monahan Award Finalists

  • Caroline Block (USA) for English Channel, 20 Bridges Manhattan, Lake George, Cayuga Lake, Santa Barbara Channel, and 3 North Channel swims.
  • Pat Gallant-Charette (USA) for North Channel (oldest ever), Catalina Channel, Tsugaru Strait, Molokai Channel, Cook Strait, and English Channel
  • Lori King (USA) for Bermuda circumnavigation (first woman), English Channel, 20 Bridges Manhattan, and multiple other marathon swims

2019 Ultraswimming Award Winners & Finalists

Solo Swim of the Year Winner

Solo Swim of the Year Finalists

  • Cameron Bellamy (South Africa) for Barbados to St. Lucia first 150 km in 56 hours 55 minutes on 15 September while non-standard equipment used, stinger suit
  • Sarah Ferguson (South Africa) for a first Around Easter Island 60 km in 19 hours 8 minutes on 16 March, ratified by Marathon Swimmers Federation
  • Jessi Harewicz (Canada) for Strait of Georgia, Nanaimo to Vancouver (first) 59 km in 30 hours 13 minutes on 26 August, ratified by Marathon Swimmers Federation
  • Becca Mann (United States) for Maui Nui Swim between Maui-Molokai-Lanai-Maui (first) 58 km in 20 hours 53 minutes on 19 August 19, ratified by Hawaii Channel Swimming Association
  • Sarah Thomas (United States) - English Channel 4-way first, and new world distance record for multi-way route. 132 km in 54 hours, 10 minutes on September 17. Ratified by Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation.

Barra Award Winners

  • John Batchelder (USA) for 370 km total distance in 2019. SCAR (all 4 stages), 8 Bridges (6 stages before 7th canceled), Capri-Napoli, Lake Tahoe length, Lac Massawippi 2-way, Lake Willoughby all-butterfly, Horsetooth 10K all-backstroke.
  • Sandra Frimerman-Bergquist (USA) for unique involvement in pro races, amateur races, and solo swims. Lac St-Jean, Capri-Napoli, St. Lucia Channel (4th and fastest person), END-WET (4th consecutive win), and numerous other swims
  • Stephen Rouch (USA) for 8 Bridges Stage 5 Great Bays, Atlantic City Around-the-Island, Lake Memphremagog 2-way in 25 hours, a new course record, Swim the Suck (1st place), Lac Massawippi (1st place)
  • Sarah Thomas (USA) for four-way English Channel, the greatest athletic achievement of 2019, plus Cook Strait, Round-Trip Angel Island in a new women’s record), Blue Mesa Reservoir 2-way at 7520-feet elevation.
  • John Zemaitis (USA) for North Channel, Monterey Bay (first male), three channels of Maui Nui triangle (Kalohi, Pailolo, Au’au), Sea of Galilee 2-way, Tampa Bay Marathon course, most swims completed in tandem with brother Joe

Barra List Nominees

Service to Marathon Swimming Winner (2019-2020)

Note: Due to COVID-19, MSF did not run awards for solo swimming in 2020. The Service award covers both 2019-2020.

2024 Ultraswimming Award Winners & Finalists

Solo Swim of the Year Winners

  • Amy Appelhans Gubser (USA) for first Golden Gate Bridge to the Farallon Islands crossing in the outbound direction, 47.7 km in 17 hours 3 minutes 48 seconds on 11 May, observed by Ken Mignosa and ratified by MSF
  • Runner-Up: Brian Foster (Ireland) for two-way North Channel, first male to complete a two-way solo, ratified by ILDSA

Solo Swim of the Year Finalists

Yudovin Award for Most Adventurous Swim Winners

  • Simone Blaser (Australia) for Upper Ord River, Western Australia in 16 hour 13 minutes on 14-15 September 2024, observed and documented by Ane Hagen, ratified by MSF
  • Runner-Up: Jessica Kieras 81.7 km around Mission Peninsula in Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan, ratified by MSF

Yudovin Award for Most Adventurous Swim Finalists

External links

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