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Catalina Channel
Completion of the swim between Catalina Island and California mainland, non wetsuit and not listing multiple times or different directions.  Note:  Name, Category, Country and Induction Year.  The speed record progression is listed here.

Nick Adams, Honor Swimmer, Great Britain, 2013

Greta Andersen, Honor Swimmer, Denmark, 1964

Antonio Argüelles Díaz-González, Honor Swimmer, México, 2015

David Barra, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 2017

Cameron Bellamy, Honor Swimmer, South Africa, 2020

Colleen Blair, MBE, Honor Swimmer, Great Britain, 2023

Karen Burton Reeder, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 1999

Florence Chadwick, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 1966

Kimberley Chambers, Honor Swimmer, New Zealand, 2019

David Stevens Clark, Honor Administrator, United States of America, 2004

Anne Cleveland, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 2011

Cindy Cleveland, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 2018

Marcia Cleveland, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 2020

Juan "Johnny" José Cortiñas, Honor Swimmer, Cuba, 1967

***Baron Abílio Couto, Honor Swimmer, Brazil, 2001

Lynne Cox, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 1982

Penny Lee Dean, EdD, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 1980

Ned Denison, Honor Administrator, Ireland, 2012

Elizabeth Fry, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 2014

Pat Gallant-Charette, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 2019

Suzanne Heim-Bowen, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 2024

Chad Hundeby, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 1996

Dr. Vicki Keith, CM, Honor Swimmer, Canada, 2003

Jaime Lomelín Gavaldón, Honor Swimmer, México, 2023

Dr. Marcy MacDonald, DPM, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 2005

Michelle Macy, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 2019

Attila Mányoki, Honor Swimmer, Hungary, 2016

Chloë McCardel, Honor Swimmer, Australia, 2016

Sally Anne Minty-Gravett, MBE, Honor Swimmer, Great Britain, 2005

Jaimie Monahan, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 2018

Rohan Dattatrey More, Honor Swimmer, India, 2018

Evan Morrison, Honor Administrator, United States of America, 2022

David Morgan, Honor Swimmer, Great Britain, 1983

Lynton Mortensen, Honor Swimmer, Australia, 2024

Kevin Murphy, Honor Swimmer, Great Britain, 1971

Forrest Nelson, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 2015

Anna-Carin Nordin, Honor Swimmer, Sweden, 2018

Penny Palfrey, Honor Swimmer, Australia, 2009

Tom Park, Honor Swimmer, Canada, 1968

Courtney Moates Paulk, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 2024

Dale Petranech, Honor Administrator, United States of America, 1995

James Pittar, Honor Swimmer, Australia, 2009

Stephen Redmond, Honor Swimmer, Ireland, 2017

Taranath Narayan Shenoy, Honor Swimmer, India, 1987

Dan Simonelli, Honor Coach, United States of America, 2024

Carol Sing, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 2000

Petar Stoychev, Honor Swimmer, Bulgaria, 2008

Alison Streeter, MBE, Honor Swimmer, Great Britain, 1985

Henry Sullivan, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 1968

Sarah Thomas, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 2018

Nora Toledano Cadena, Honor Swimmer, México, 2006

John York, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 1989

George Young, Honor Swimmer, Canada, 1963

David Yudovin, Honor Swimmer, United States of America, 1999

Major Jason Zirganos, Honor Swimmer, Greece, 1971

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***This swim does not appear on the website list of success for IMSHOF Honor Organization Catalina Channel Swimming Federation (https://swimcatalina.org/swim-successes/). IMSHOF is trying to get the swim details to the organization to have them reviewed – as potentially missed when the historic records were first assembled.

Philip Rush did a training swim in 1982 which is reported in many places.  It is agreed that this was never intended to be included on any official success lists.

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The list above covers the “normal” Catalina Channel crossings of 32.3 km.  This is generally starting at Doctor’s cover on the island and landing anywhere on the California mainland or starting in the Point Vicente area and landing anywhere on the island.  

 

During the 1984 First International Open Ocean Swim, the swimmers started from Isthmus Beach on the island with a forced finish on Cabrillo Beach on the mainland.  Honoree John York (8 hours and 54 minutes) was followed by Honorees Alison Streeter, MBE and Davide Morgan plus three others.  The shortest straight-line difference is 41.09 km.

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The first race, on January 15, 1927, started from Avalon on the island to the breakwater at Point Vicente on the mainland.  The shortest straight-line difference is 35.4 km and Honoree George Young completed in 15 hours and 44.5 minutes.  See original "after" race program below.

Honorees who helped greatly with the creation of the organization, administration, reporting, coaching or piloting of these swims are listed below.  The list of all helpers is extensive but Honorees who completed the swims and non-Honorees are not listed. 

Captain John Pittman and Captain Mickey Pittman

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