2012 Global Open Water Swimming Conference

LONG BEACH, California, September 17. ATHLETES, coaches and administrators are arriving in Southern California this week to attend the 2012 Global Open Water Swimming Conference on the Queen Mary on Sept. 21-22 and the Swim Across America event on Sunday, Sept. 23 in Marine Stadium.

The Swim Across America event will be streamed live online, but there will be plenty of additional highlights over this three-day extravaganza.

Firstly, there will be the assembly of arguably the greatest collection of female marathon swimmers in history: Olympic champions, world champions, professional marathon swimmers, channel swimmers and national champions from various countries.

The esteemed group includes Greta Andersen, the top professional marathon swimmer from the 1950s and 1960s, Penny Dean, the top professional marathon swimmer from the 1970s, Shelley Taylor-Smith, top professional marathon swimmer from the 1980s and 1990s will be joined by Pilar Geijo, the top professional marathon swimmer from thus century and 12-time English Channel swimmer Dr. Marcella MacDonald, International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer Suzanne Heim-Bowen and dozens of other accomplished women.

The keynote speeches for the Conference will be electrifying with a pair of charismatic individuals: Diana Nyad and Craig Dietz. On the Queen Mary, Nyad will talk about her swim attempts from Cuba where she will show incredible footage of a 63-year-old woman attempting to overcome squalls and box jellyfish, the most venomous creatures on the planet. She will be joined Craig Dietz, an indescribably courageous athlete who was born without arms and legs.

Craig is an attorney, drives a car, and is married. The Pennsylvania native will follow-up his presentation by entering the Swim Across America event in Marine Stadium. Both Nyad and Dietz will describe living without limitations and will generate everything from laughter to tears during their speeches.

The 3-day weekend will include the following activities:

Friday, September 21st
* Welcome Reception at 6 — 8 pm with a Marine & Swimming Art Exhibit and the Screening of 50-Year-Old Freshman: Suzanne Heim-Bowen here.

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