Documentation Review Panel

In November 2014, an international panel of experienced marathon swimmers was formed to review documentation of several independent marathon swims, and to vote on recognizing a new world distance record for ocean swimming.

David Barra (New York, USA)

Solo Marathon Swims: Maui Channel, Tampa Bay Marathon Swim, Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, Catalina Channel, Boston Light, English Channel, Ederle Swim, 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim (stages 1-7), SCAR (Saguaro, Canyon, & Roosevelt Lakes), La Traversee du Lac St Jean (32 km), Cape Cod Bay (19 miles), Lake Memphremagog (25 miles), Eleuthera coastline (22 miles), Skaneateles Lake (16 miles).

Leadership, Volunteer Work, & otherCo-Founder and Race Director, 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim (2011-14), 2 Bridges Swim Under the Walkway (2012-14). Board Member, Minnewaska Distance Swimming Association (2007-present), Coney Island Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers (2010-present). Safety Boat Operator, CIBBOWS, 8 Bridges, NYC Swim, Massachusetts OWSA, 100 Mile Paddle (NY). Official Observer, Chloë McCardel’s 124.4km Eleuthera-Nassau swim, Mo Siegel’s Skaneateles Lake swim. Crew for numerous NYC-area swims, Catalina Channel, and English Channel.

WebsiteBarra Coda

Donal Buckley (Ireland)

Solo Marathon Swims: English Channel, Manhattan Island Marathon Swim. Clew Bay, Blackrock to Cobh, Beginish Island, Tramore Bay over-and-back unescorted, Guillamenes to Brownstown Head and back unsupported, Irish Champion of Champions, Sandycove to Speckled Door and back, Roches Head to Power Head and back, first-ever Clonmel to Carrick-on-Suir river Suir swim, Guillamenes to Annestown. First to swim the entire length of Ireland’s Copper Coast in a series of solo unsupported out-and-back swims.

Leadership, Volunteer Work, & other: Co-Founder, Marathon Swimmers Federation. Co-Founder, Marathon Swimmers Forum. Co-Author, MSF Rules of Marathon Swimming. Crew for numerous English Channel swims (including Trent Grimsey’s WR) and North Channel swims.

Website: Loneswimmer.com (two-time winner, Irish Blog Awards).

Anne Cleveland (California, USA)

Solo Marathon Swims: English Channel, one-way and two-way (former record holder, oldest to complete two-way). Catalina Channel.

Leadership, Volunteer Work, & other: Official Observer, Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation and Catalina Channel Swimming Federation. Coaching: USA Swimming; U.S. Masters Swimming online open-water coach; private marathon swimming coach.

Honour Swimmer, International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (2010).

Website: Anne Cleveland

Sylvain Estadieu (France)

Solo Marathon Swims: English Channel, English Channel butterfly (first by a male), Lake Zurich, Lough Sheelin, Vidösternsimmet.

Winner, MSF Solo Swim of the Year (2013)

Website: Sylle Swims

Elaine Howley (Massachusetts, USA)

Solo Marathon Swims: English Channel, Catalina Channel, Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, Lake Memphremagog (25 miles), Kingdom Swim (10 miles), Ederle Swim (17.5 miles), two-way Boston Light Swim (16 miles, record-holder), Lake Pend Oreille lengthwise (32.3 miles, first person).

Leadership, Volunteer Work, & other: Co-Founder & Vice-President, Massachusetts Open Water Swimming Association. Co-Author, MSF Rules of Marathon Swimming. Selection Committee Member, Manhattan Island Marathon Swim. Co-race organizer, Boston Light Swim. Official Observer, Massachusetts Open Water Swimming Association. Associate Editor, U.S. Masters Swimming. Contributing Writer for H2Open Magazine and espnW.

Website: Tales of the Beer Baby   Athleta Sponsored Athlete page

Andrew Hunt (Australia)

Solo Marathon Swims: English Channel, Catalina Channel, Manhattan Island Marathon Swim. 11x Rottnest Channel, including a two-way.

Andrew Malinak (Washington State, USA)

Solo Marathon Swims: Strait of Gibraltar, Kingdom Swim, Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, Boston Light Swim, 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim (only swimmer to finish all 7 stages in 2014).

Leadership, Volunteer Work, & other: Official Observer for Elaine Howley’s Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho swim. Co-Author, MSF Rules of Marathon Swimming. NCAA Div. 1-AA swimmer at University of Delaware.

Website: andrewswims.com

Anthony McCarley (Pennsylvania, USA)

Solo Marathon Swims: English Channel, Catalina Channel, Manhattan Island Marathon Swim (8th to do Triple Crown in less than 12 months), Tampa Bay Marathon Swim, Santa Barbara Channel (Anacapa Island to mainland), Cape May Circumnavigation (15 miles), Swim Around Key West (12 miles), Three Rivers Marathon Swim, St Thomas-St John three-way (first-ever, and first swim according to MSF Rules). CSA O’Clee Jubilee award winner.

Website: Anthony’s Channel Swim

Zoe Sadler (United Kingdom)

Solo Marathon Swims: English Channel. BLDSA Lake Windemere, Lake Windemere two-way, BLDSA Champion of Champions. English Channel relays: 2x 3-person and 2x 6-person. Cork Distance Camp survivor.

Leadership, Volunteer Work, & other: Official Observer, Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation (2012-14). Crew for numerous English Channel solo swims.

Fergal Somerville (Ireland)

Solo Marathon Swims: North Channel (record for earliest-in-season), English Channel, Cleggan to Inis Bofin (12km), Cork to Cobh (16km), 3x Lough Sheelan (15km), Inis Meáin to Connemara (14km, first), Dublin Bay two-way (15km, speed record), Round Inis Meáin (12km, first).

Leadership, Volunteer Work, & other: Organised Eastern Bay Invitational International Ice Mile Swim in Lough Dan, County Wicklow (2013-15). Ambassador, International Ice Swimming Association. Featured marathon swimmer in one hour TV documentary ‘ExTreme’ which focuses on six extreme sports. Crew to North Channel swims.

Nominee, MSF Solo Swim of the Year (2013)

Website: Fergal Somerville

Sarah Thomas (Colorado, USA)

Solo Marathon Swims: English Channel, Catalina Channel, Manhattan Island Marathon Swim. Two-way Lake Tahoe (46 miles, first unassisted). Two-way Lake Memphremagog (50 miles, first person). Kingdom Swim (15 miles).

Winner, MSF Barra Award (2013). NCAA Div. 1 swimmer at University of Connecticut.

Nora Toledano (Mexico)

Solo Marathon Swims: 6x English Channel crossings including a two-way. 2x Manhattan Island Marathon Swim. FINA Marathon Swimming World Cup circuit competitor in 1990s. Akumal to Cozumel (45 km), Cozumel to Cancun (70 km). Nominee, Premio Nacional al Deporte (National Sports Award of Mexico): 1994, 1997, 2005.

Honour Swimmer, International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.

Grace van der Byl (California, USA)

Solo Marathon Swims: Catalina Channel (record-holder, island-to-mainland), 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim (record-holder for all seven stages). SCAR Swim Challenge (all four stages). Cape May Circumnavigation (15 miles, winner in 2013). Manhattan Island Marathon Swim (winner in 2014). Lake Memphremagog ‘In Search of Memphre’ (25 miles, winner in 2014). Night Train Swimmers 226-mile relay (former world distance record).

Leadership, Volunteer Work, & other: Observer, paddler, and/or crew for over 20 Catalina Channel swims (2010 - present). Support crew for 8 Bridges, SBCSA, and Chloe McCardel’s Cuba-Florida attempt. Co-founder of Southern California volunteer swim support network.

Winner, MSF Barra Award (2012)

Milko van Gool (Netherlands)

Solo Marathon Swims: English Channel. North Channel (current male record-holder). Rottnest Channel (2x). IJsselmeer (Netherlands). Bangla Channel (Bangladesh, current record holder). Lake Malawi (current record holder).

Website: MvG Channel Swim

Scott Zornig (California, USA)

Solo Marathon Swims: Catalina Channel, Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, Anacapa Island to mainland (former course record holder), Anacapa Island to Santa Cruz Island (first), Pismo to Avila (record holder).

Leadership, Volunteer Work, & other: President, Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association. Founder: “Swim for Hope” (raised $500K for pediatric cancer research), Orange Coast Relay Swim, Master of the Seas. Co-founder of Swim Camp Catalina. Coach of Capo and Coto Masters swim teams. Observer of over 20 marathon swims, Former collegiate swimmer and water polo player, Featured on “NBC with Fred Roggin” (won Emmy Award for sports best). Commentator in marathon swim documentary film DRIVEN.

Panel Chair

Evan Morrison (California, USA)

Solo Marathon Swims: Catalina Channel, Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, Tampa Bay Marathon Swim (overall winner in 2011), Santa Barbara Channel (Santa Cruz Island to mainland, set course record), Ederle Swim (set course record), Maui Channel, Bay to Breakers San Francisco Bay swim (overall winner in 2013).

Leadership, Volunteer Work, & other: Co-Founder, Marathon Swimmers Federation. Co-Founder, Marathon Swimmers Forum. Co-Author, MSF Rules of Marathon Swimming. Board Member, Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association. Selection Committee Member, Manhattan Island Marathon Swim. NCAA Div. 1 swimmer at Princeton University. Featured in the documentary film DRIVEN. Observer of Santa Barbara Channel swims, Catalina Channel swims, and first two Farallon Islands-to-mainland solo swims since 1967.