Outside The Box

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For those with a passion, interest or curiosity about open water swimming and who wish to talk about how to get more people of color informed and involved in long distance swimming.

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Latest Activity: Sep 15, 2011

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Charles "Tuna" Chapman: A Fish in water!

One reason why I go into long distance swimming was because of one man - Charles "Tuna" Chapman the first African American to swim the English Channel (EC) in 1981, and the 220 overall at that point. Charlie The Tuna as he was called by friends and family was also the only person ever to swim from Aquatic Park to Alcatraz Island and back using only the butterfly stroke! When he made his 12 hour EC crossing it came 106 years after the first man - Captain Matthew Webb - did it and one year after Los Angeles Dodger's General manager, Al Campanis, said blacks didn't have the buoyancy to swim. But enough of me telling the story of this amazing man please

click here and listen to him in his own words.
Enjoy!

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Comment by ERROL DUPLESSIS on March 16, 2011 at 11:46am: Hi Naji,

Errol here - our son is training to swim the Brooklyn to Manhattan race (East River) under the Brooklyn Bridge in August. His time in the pool is excellent. Any words of wisdom?

Comment by Thaddeus Gamory on November 13, 2009 at 10:18am: Hey Naji,

Congratulations on completing your first marathon swim, that is truly an amazing accomplishment. Though I am a swimming coach and Triathlete who promotes, encourages and coordinates open water swim workouts and competition, I have yet to swim beyond 1.2 miles in an open water competition myself. I'm inspired by your example (and that of Charlie the Tuna, wow) and will register for my first 5K Swim, at the Swim Miami Open water event, in Key Biscayne Florida, April 17, 2010.
Thaddeus

Comment by Kathleen Lawrence on September 29, 2009 at 1:11pm: Hi, Naji:
this is the 65 year old grannie from Arizona who swam Alcatraz to San Francisco for drowning prevention. You can check out my website: www.granniegatorhead.wordpress.com
Thank you all you do!
Kathleen