Tammy van Wisse, renown Australian marathon swimmer and
holder of 11 Australian and world records, added another world record
to her resume Friday when she smashed the 81-year old record held by
legendary female athlete Gertrude Ederle. Van Wisse's new record of 5
hours, 6 minutes and 48 seconds from Battery Park, NYC to Sandy Hook,
N.J. eclipsed Ederle's record, which was set June 15, 1925, by 2 hours
and 5 minutes. One of the reasons van Wisse selected this particular
swim was because Gertrude Ederle was her childhood inspiration and
hero.
"Although I have swum more than one and a half times around the world, these 22 miles have been some of the most meaningful," said van Wisse. "Meeting the Ederle family and getting to know them helped me to swim with the spirit of Gertrude. She was a pioneer for women, a barrier-breaker for all athletes and a timeless inspiration."
Van Wisse retraced a course that Ederle swam 81-years ago as part of her training to cross the English Channel. This particular swim to Sandy Hook stands apart because it combines speed and endurance, requiring swimmers to maintain a fast pace over a long period of time in order to take advantage of favorable currents and tide conditions.
Van Wisse launched from Battery Park's Gangway 1 at 7:21 a.m. Friday, and within 2 hours and 20 minutes, passed Coney Island and entered the Atlantic Ocean. Her swift pace of 3.2 mph triggered the crew's anticipation at the halfway point that van Wisse could possibly break Ederle's longstanding record.
The marathon swim took van Wisse past the Statue of Liberty, Governor's Island, Red Hook Brooklyn, the Verrazano Bridge and beyond Coney Island. From there, she entered the open Atlantic Ocean for the final push toward Sandy Hook, where the lighthouse stood as a guiding beacon. Several hundred beachgoers cheered as she finished the grueling swim.
Van Wisse's objective for swimming to Sandy Hook was to honor the American swimming icon and legend. She hopes a new generation of women and girls will remember Ederle's legacy of courage and determination and continue to advance women's involvement in athletics.
In her landmark 35-mile swim, Ederle not only crossed the English Channel -- which only five men had done -- but she smashed the standing world record by two hours. She silenced all skeptics who declared female athletes were inferior to their male counterparts.
"This swim is significant to me for several reasons," said van Wisse. "Gertrude Ederle was a woman I admired for her 'never say die' attitude and amazing perseverance. Her swims meant more than just records. She advanced the acceptance of women in sports, and she did it at a time when women were discouraged from participating."
"People said women couldn't swim the Channel, but I proved they could," Ederle said at the time.
Citing Ederle as their inspiration, more than 60,000 women earned American Red Cross swimming certificates during the 1920s. Similarly, while van Wisse loves the challenge of breaking a world record, her goal was to inspire and motivate girls to tap their inner strength.
The swim was sponsored by Melaleuca: The Wellness Company, which manufactures The Access Bar, a patented fat conversion bar that helps the body use stored fat as a natural source of energy. Ever since tackling the English Channel more than 10 years ago, van Wisse has taken The Access Bar as part of her training and nutrition regiment.
"Although I have swum more than one and a half times around the world, these 22 miles have been some of the most meaningful," said van Wisse. "Meeting the Ederle family and getting to know them helped me to swim with the spirit of Gertrude. She was a pioneer for women, a barrier-breaker for all athletes and a timeless inspiration."
Van Wisse retraced a course that Ederle swam 81-years ago as part of her training to cross the English Channel. This particular swim to Sandy Hook stands apart because it combines speed and endurance, requiring swimmers to maintain a fast pace over a long period of time in order to take advantage of favorable currents and tide conditions.
Van Wisse launched from Battery Park's Gangway 1 at 7:21 a.m. Friday, and within 2 hours and 20 minutes, passed Coney Island and entered the Atlantic Ocean. Her swift pace of 3.2 mph triggered the crew's anticipation at the halfway point that van Wisse could possibly break Ederle's longstanding record.
The marathon swim took van Wisse past the Statue of Liberty, Governor's Island, Red Hook Brooklyn, the Verrazano Bridge and beyond Coney Island. From there, she entered the open Atlantic Ocean for the final push toward Sandy Hook, where the lighthouse stood as a guiding beacon. Several hundred beachgoers cheered as she finished the grueling swim.
Van Wisse's objective for swimming to Sandy Hook was to honor the American swimming icon and legend. She hopes a new generation of women and girls will remember Ederle's legacy of courage and determination and continue to advance women's involvement in athletics.
In her landmark 35-mile swim, Ederle not only crossed the English Channel -- which only five men had done -- but she smashed the standing world record by two hours. She silenced all skeptics who declared female athletes were inferior to their male counterparts.
"This swim is significant to me for several reasons," said van Wisse. "Gertrude Ederle was a woman I admired for her 'never say die' attitude and amazing perseverance. Her swims meant more than just records. She advanced the acceptance of women in sports, and she did it at a time when women were discouraged from participating."
"People said women couldn't swim the Channel, but I proved they could," Ederle said at the time.
Citing Ederle as their inspiration, more than 60,000 women earned American Red Cross swimming certificates during the 1920s. Similarly, while van Wisse loves the challenge of breaking a world record, her goal was to inspire and motivate girls to tap their inner strength.
The swim was sponsored by Melaleuca: The Wellness Company, which manufactures The Access Bar, a patented fat conversion bar that helps the body use stored fat as a natural source of energy. Ever since tackling the English Channel more than 10 years ago, van Wisse has taken The Access Bar as part of her training and nutrition regiment.