SAN FRANCISCO, California, May 22. BRAXTON Bilbrey, a 7-year-old second-grader from Glendale, Arizona, became the youngest person to swim from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco’s Aquatic Park on Monday morning. Bilbrey completed the 1.4-mile swim in 53-degree water accompanied by his coach, two other swimmers and a Coast Guard Boat.
Bilbrey said he was inspired to make the swim by a 9-year-old who accomplished the feat to become – at the time – the youngest successful navigator of the swim. In preparation for the effort, Brilbey trained two hours per day, four times per week. Brilbey started his swim at 7 a.m. Alcatraz, of course, is the closed-down prison that is now a major tourist attraction. During its reign, Alcatraz held some of the most infamous criminals in history, including the likes of Al Capone.