This week’s performance of the week goes to open water swimmer Lori King, who this week completed only the second solo swim around Bermuda in history. There are several reasons to be impressed by King’s swim. First off, King completed the 36.5 mile swim in 21:19.45, which makes her circumnavigation the fastest in history. The only other individual to complete the swim was Sean O’Connell, who completed the feat in 1976 in a time of 43 hours and 27 minutes, while swimming one mile longer. The only other recorded swim was from a 50-person relay group that completed the swim over the course of two days.
Second, the pure logistics of the swim make it an impressive feat. King battled over two foot tall waves in addition to 12-14 knot winds while completing the swim. Commenting on her swim, King noted the team effort it took to successfully navigate around the island: “This was a team effort. This was not my swim…I cannot own it. This would not have happened without the role that each of my incredible crew played. I owe this feat and share this incredible milestone in my career with all of them.”
Perhaps most exciting, open water swimming is a relatively new athletic adventure for Lori King. While she swam for La Salle University between 1993-1997, she only returned to swimming in 2004 and only started competing in open water events in 2010. That gives King only 6 years of serious open water focus behind her, which means there may be many more impressive swims in her future.
Congratulations Lori King on earning Swimming World’s Performance of the Week!
Thank you thank you thank you!!! I have no words. My gratitude runs deep. The acknowledgement is felt.
Until the next adventure (and there will be one),
Lori
Extraordinary example of “oneness” with Ocean Waters
Exceptional Woman
Adventure on Lori
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