Record-Setting Swimmer in San Francisco’s 2016 Bridge to Bridge Swim
Swimmers started the race in dense fog
Anaya Khanzode, 10, completes Bridge to Bridge as the youngest finisher recorded
The finish line visible for swimmers taking the corner around the city skyline
10K course from Golden Gate Bridge to Bay Bridge sees the record fall for the youngest swimmer
SAN FRANCISCO—July 2, 2016—Water World Swim, the universal expert on open water swimming, today announced multiple records were set in its annual “Bridge to Bridge,” a legendary swim comprised of elite swimmers racing between two landmark bridges in the exciting bay waters. This 10K race begins at the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge and finishes at the Bay Bridge. The swim began at slack tide and moved progressively towards a max 3.0 flood. Water temperature ranged from 58-61F (14.5-16 C) degrees throughout the course under heavy fog, 15 MPH winds and 53F (12C) degree air temperatures.
In the men’s wetsuit division, Ryan Agnew, 30, Papua New Guinea, won the race, finishing in 1:10:25. Second place went to Kevin Donlon, 37, from San Francisco, at 1:13:13; and Eduardo Collazos, 45, from Peru, completed the swim in 1:13:35. Quinn Fitzgerald, 33, was the first men’s skin swimmer in at 1:17:51.
In the women’s division, Kristin Gray was the winner at 1:17:47; she was followed by two skin swimmers: two-time Olympian Golda Marcus, 32, at 1:19:12 and 14-year-old Hana Lip at 1:20:30. Full results are available online here. Photos from the 2016 Bridge to Bridge Swim are also available courtesy of Vivek Khanzode.
Also at the race, 10 years-old Anaya Khanzode, Sunnyvale, Calif., became the youngest swimmer to ever complete the more than 6 mile course. There were five “New Waves” swimmers competing under the age of 18, including Lip, budding junior triathlete Angel More at age 13; and Mitali Khanzode, who previously held the world record as the youngest person to complete an Alcatraz crossing.
“These swimmers are some of the fastest I have ever seen in the Bay,” said Pedro Ordenes, head coach and co-founder of Water World Swim. “It took extreme strategy and skill to be able to navigate the currents and get into the fast lanes, in addition to the training experience, to complete the swim in the times they did. The best part, was how each swimmer welcomed the next back to the boat after finishing the course. These athletes are a great example of sportsmanship.”
Bridge to Bridge is just one of the renowned events in Water World Swim’s annual race series. The next competition is Swim Around the Rock on August 14. This 3.25 mile round trip swim starts at Aquatic Park and take swimmers out and around Alcatraz Island before returning back to the beach in front of Ghirardelli Square. This challenging swim requires a strategic race plan to master the tides and fast currents around Alcatraz. Applications from elite open water swimmers are still being accepted online here.
One of the highlights of the race season put on by Water World Swim is the annual “Swim with the Centurions,” being held this year on September 11. This Alcatraz crossing honors those who have successfully escaped the prison island 100 times. The fun swim is open to first-timers and centurions alike. More information and registration is available on our website.
Water World Swim provides a safe, guided and fun environment for swimmers of all levels to uncover a lifelong and life-affirming love for the planet’s most exotic natural pools. From weekly swims in local waters to international expeditions, Water World Swim unites the world through swimming. For more information, please visit www.waterworldswim.com.
About Water World Swim
Water World Swim is the universal expert on open water swimming. With nearly 30 years’ experience tackling the biggest aquatic challenges on Earth, Water World Swim has helped unite the world through swimming by successfully guiding excursions across the San Francisco Bay, English Channel, the Strait of Magellan, the Bonifacio Channel and more. Lead by Head Coach Pedro Ordenes, who has completed more than than 900 Alcatraz crossings, Water World Swim provides a safe, guided, and fun environment for swimmers of all levels to uncover a lifelong and life-affirming love for the planet’s most exotic natural pools. For more information, please visit www.waterworldswim.com
Media Contact
Andrea Vuturo
andrea@waterworldswim.com