HUNTINGTON BEACH. February 6. OPEN water swimmers who wield power and influence do so in a variety of ways and roles: as swimmers (both former and current), administrators, judges, coaches, officials, writers, reporters, producers, photographers and videographers.
Some have impact in a subtle manner; others are aided by the media or their own marketing efforts. Some seek to be influential; others merely wield power by the force of their actions, achievements statements or prose.
However way these individuals are involved in the the sport, the following women can be considered to be among the movers and shakers in the world of open water swimming. It is, by far, an incomplete global list, but these women are open water ambassadors, spreading their enthusiasm and passion for the sport (listed in alphabetical order):
1. Alison Streeter MBE (England): Queen of the Channel®
2. Allison Appleby (Australia): Co-owner of Aquadiva swimwear
3. Ana Marcela Cunha (Brazil): World champion and professional competitor
4. Angela Maurer (Germany): Professional marathon swimmer, mother and 2-time Olympian
5. Angela Oram (England): Committee member of the Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation
6. Anna-Carin Nordin (Sweden): Marathon and channel swimmer
7. Anna Rita Strydom (South Africa): Manager for Natalie du Toit
8. Anne Marie Ward (Ireland): 2010 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year
9. Beverley Thomas (England): President, British Long Distance Swimming Association
10. Bonnie Ford (USA): ESPN reporter responsible for Olympic sports including open water swimming
11. Carol Sing (USA): Member of the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation board of director
12.Carolyn Asher (Australia): Coach, learn to swim advocate and member of the Board of Directors of the Royal Life Saving Queensland in Australia
13. Cecilia Biagioli (Argentina): 4-time Olympian, potential Olympic Marathon Swimming 10km medalist and Olimpia de Plata recipient
14. Charlene Wittstock (Monaco): Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco and fund-raising extraordinaire
15. Chloe Zimmerman (Turks & Caicos): Co-race director of the Race for the Conch and marketer of the West Indies Bluewater Ocean Swim Series
16. Christiane Fanzeres (Brazil): Brazil Swimming Federation administrator
17. Coco Emberson (USA): Co-Race Director of the Maui Channel Swim
18. Dee Llewellyn (England): British Long Distance Swimming Association administrator and International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame director
19. Deanne Draeger (USA): Founder of Urban Swim and the race director of the Rose Pitonof Swim
20. Diana Nyad (USA): Author, motivational speaker, television commentator, and extreme swimmer
21. Dr. Jacinta Galeai (American Samoa): Director of Education authorized ocean swimming curriculum for high school students
22. Dr. Julie Bradshaw MBE (England): Coach, motivational speaker and Administrative Secretary of the Channel Swimming Association
23. Dr. Marcy MacDonald (USA): Member of the board of directors of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame and 12-time English Channel swimmer
24. Dr. Margo Mountjoy (Canada): FINA Bureau Liaison to Sports Medicine Committee, only female member of the FINA Bureau and International Olympic Committee member
25. Dr. Sakura Hingley (England): Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming member, hypothermia researcher and committee member of the Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation
26. Dr. Susan Ractliffe (England): Director of the Channel Swimming Association
27. Elizabeth Fry (USA): Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming and Swim Across The Sound race director
28. Elizabeth Weil (USA): New York Times reporter interested in open water swimming
29. Eney Jones (USA): Patent holder, competitor and coach
30. Erica Rose (USA): Former world champion and USA Swimming committee member
31. Esther Williams (USA): Aquamusical star, swimming icon and entrepreneur
32. Freda Streeter (England): Coach and English Channel motivator
33. Greta Andersen (USA/Denmark): Olympic champion, swimming icon and coach
34. Irene van der Laan (Netherlands): Director of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
35. Jackie Cobell (England): English Channel swimmer
36. Jacqueline Grossman (USA): Race director of USA Swimming sanctioned open water swims
37. Jane Katz Ph.D. (USA): Author, professor, coach and speaker
38. Janel Jorgensen (USA): Olympic medalist and Executive Director of Swim Across America
39. Jen Schumacher (USA): Sports Psychologist and endurance athlete
40. Joan Metcalfe (England): Director of the Channel Swimming Association
41. June Krauser (USA): Selection Committee Chair of the International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame
42. Kaia Hedlund (USA): President of the Waikiki Roughwater Swim Committee
43. Karah Nazor Friberg Ph.D. (USA): English Channel swimmer, founder of the Chattanooga Open Water Swimmers and race director of Swim The Suck
44. Karen Burton Reeder (USA): International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee and open water swimming website creator
45. Karen Smidt-Allard (USA): Founder & CEO of SBR Sports and aquapreneur of swimming products
46. Karen Throsby (England): Sociologist and English Channel researcher/swimmer
47. Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen (USA): Coach, author and motivational speaker
48. Kate Rew (England): Author of Wild Swim, TV personality and Outdoor Swimming Society founder
49. Kathy Dykes (USA): Marketing Director at FINIS Inc.
50. Keri-Anne Payne (England): Olympic Marathon Swim gold medal favorite and British media darling
51. Laura Hamel (USA): Editor-in-Chief, SWIMMER Magazine
52. Leslie Thomas (USA): Founder and head coach of Swim Art of San Francisco Bay
53. Liane Llewellyn (England): President Elect, British Long Distance Swimming Association and marathon swimmer
54. Linda Bamford (USA): Catalina Channel Swimming Federation administrator and board director
55. Luane Rowe (Australia): Athlete and industrial designer at FINIS
56. Lynn Blouin (Canada): Board Director of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
57. Lynne Cox (USA): Author, speaker, extreme swimmer and Hall of Fame inductee
58. Lynn Hazlewood (USA): U.S. Masters Swimming Open Water Committee Chairperson and co-founder of the Jim McDonnell Lake Swims
59. Maddy Crippen (USA): Administrator of the Fran Crippen Elevation Foundation
60. Marcia Cleveland (USA): Author of Dover Solo and coach
61. Marianna Lymperta (Greece): 3-time Olympian and Olympic Marathon Swimming 10km medal favorite
62. Martina Grimaldi (Italy): Olympic Marathon Swimming 10km medal favorite
63. Megan Melgaard (USA): Swimmer, coach and stunt woman
64. Melissa Gorman (Australia): 2-time Olympian and Olympic Marathon Swimming 10km medal favorite
65. Michelle Evans-Chase (USA): Grant writer and Toa o le Tai ocean swimming curriculum specialist
66. Michelle Macy (USA): Marathon swimmer and creator of the Still Water Eight
67. Montserrat Tresserras Dou (Spain): Author and board director of the Channel Swimming Association and International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
68. Nadine Day (USA): President of U.S. Masters Swimming
69. Natalie du Toit (South Africa): Olympic athlete, author and inspirational athlete
70. Natalya Pankina (Russia/UAE): Administrator with the United Arab Emirates Swimming Federation
71. Nora Toledano (Mexico): Author, marathon swimmer and Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inductee
72. Nuala Moore (Ireland): Coach and extreme swimmer
73. Pamela Dickson (New Zealand): Marathon and channel swimmer
74. Pat Gallant-Charette (USA): Marathon and channel swimmer
75. Patti Bauernfeind (USA): Marathon swimmer who does charity swims
76. Paula Selby (USA): Catalina Channel Swimming Federation administrator
77. Penny Dean (USA): Author, coach and Hall of Fame inductee
78. Penny Palfrey (Australia): Extreme swimmer and blogger
79. Pilar Geijo (Argentina): Professional marathon swimmer and 2011 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year
80. Poliana Okimoto (Brazil): 2-time Olympian and Olympic Marathon Swimming 10km medal favorite
81. Qingzhu Cao (China): China Swimming Association administrator responsible for open water swimming and FINA official
82. Sally Minty-Gravett (Jersey): President of the Jersey Long Distance Swimming Club
83. Sandy Neilson-Bell (USA): Co-race director of the open water swims sanctioned by the American Swimming Association
84. Sarah Warwick (England): Deputy Editor at H2Open Magazine and freelance writer
85. Sarah Wheeler (Hong Kong): Editor In Chief for TriMag Asia
86. Selina Moreno Pasagali (Spain): Marathon swimmer and cancer survivor and advocate
87. Shane Gould MBE (Australia): Race director of the Devil of a Swim in Tasmania, Australia, 5-time Olympic medalist and Foundation director
88. Shelley Taylor-Smith (Australia): Author, speaker, coach, FINA administrator/referee and Hall of Fame inductee
89. Siga Rose (USA): Channel swimming coach and age-group swimming coach and motivator
90. Silvia Dalotto (Argentina): South America Area President of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame and FINA official
91. Stacey Herbertson (Australia): Executive Officer and Event Manager of the Rottnest Channel Swim
92. Sue Oldham (Australia): Marathon and channel swimmer
93. Suzanne Heim-Bowen (USA): Coach, administrator, marathon swimmer
94. Swann Oberson (Switzerland): 2-time Olympian, first Swiss world champion and potential Olympic Marathon Swimming 10km medalist
95. Tammy van Wisse (Australia): Marathon swimmer, motivational speaker and environmental campaigner
96. Tanya Harding (England): Committee member of the Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation
97. Teruko Onuki (Japan): Author of 7 open water swimming books after 2 English Channel swims
98. Vicki Keith (Canada): Coach, fund-raiser, motivational speaker and extreme butterflyer
99. Wendy Coles (England): British Swimming administrator
100. Yanqiao Fang (China): Professional marathon swimmer and Olympian
101. Yuko Matsuzaki (Japan): Asia Area President of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
NOTE: The men's list of 101 Movers and Shakers in the Open Water Swimming World is posted here.
Courtesy of Open Water Source