2017 Global Marathon Swimming Awards
The MSF Global Marathon Swimming Awards, now in their sixth year, recognize the most outstanding achievements and contributions in solo marathon swimming. The awards are nominated and voted by members of the Marathon Swimmers Forum, the world’s largest independent online community of marathon swimmers.
Solo Swim of the Year
Sarah Thomas
104.6-mile (168.3 km) swim in Lake Champlain (New York/Vermont, USA). Gardiner Island loop from Rouses Point, NY. Independent swim ratified by MSF.
Documentation
Barra Award for Most Prolific Year
Abigail Fairman
2017 marathon swims: 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, Bermuda Round-the-Sound.
Photo of Abby with her kayaker for many of these swims, Alex Arévalo.
Stephen Rouch
2017 marathon swims: 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.
Photo by Devon Clifford
Service to Marathon Swimming
Andrew Malinak
For co-founding and leading the Northwest Open Water Swimming Association (2015 to present), and for piloting Sarah Thomas’s world-record Lake Champlain swim in August 2017.
Photo by Cathy Delneo
Yudovin Award for Most Adventurous Swim
Jaimie Monahan
First unassisted swim of the length of Lago Maggiore.
Tenero-Contra, Switzerland to Sesto Calende, Italy. 37 miles (59.6 km) in 24 hours, 2 minutes. Independent swim ratified by MSF.
Documentation
Photo by Arik Thormahlen
Finalists
Solo Swim of the Year
- Daniel Abel - Around Rarotonga Island
- Caroline Block - North Channel two-way attempt
- Catherine Breed - Lake Tahoe record
- Sarah Thomas - Lake Champlain
Barra Award for Most Prolific Year
Women
Men
Service to Marathon Swimming Award
- Tom Linthicum and Dave Van Mouwerik (Lake Tahoe Marathon Swimming Federation)
- Andrew Malinak (Northwest Open Water Swimming Association)
- Greg O’Connor and Elaine Kornbau Howley (Massachusetts Open Water Swimming Association)
- Mark Sheridan (British Long Distance Swimming Association)
- Scott Zornig (Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association)
Yudovin Award for Most Adventurous Swim
- Sydne Didier - swim around Isla Culebra, Puerto Rico.
- Karl Kingery - swim across Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming.
- Brian Lanahan - swim around James Island, South Carolina.
- Jaimie Monahan - swim across Lago Maggiore, Switzerland/Italy.