In 2012, The Marathon Swimmers Forum started the MSF Global Marathon Swimming Awards with two categories:
- Solo Swim of the Year that will honor the single most outstanding marathon swim of the year.
- The Barra Award that will honor the most impressive year of marathon swimming, all things considered.
In 2013, we added a third category being the “Service to Marathon Swimming” award. This honor those who have gone well above and beyond in the service to the sport of Marathon Swimming and its participants.
Announcing The Yudovin Award
This year, we are excited to announce another new award category – the Yudovin Award, named after the legendary Californian marathon swimmer David Yudovin. David is one of the very few open water swimmers to be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. The Yudovin Award honors the single most adventurous swim of the year.
To answer the inevitable question - How is this different from ‘Solo Swim of the Year’? I’ll say this – ‘Solo Swim of the Year’ will recognize a purely athletic achievement. In our sport, this might mean extraordinarily long swims, extraordinarily fast swims, or extraordinarily physically tough swims. As an example, past winners like Tina Neill and Trent Grimsey.
In contrast, the Yudovin Award is meant to recognize the Spirit of Adventure. The most interesting swim, or the most unusual swim. ( Naturally, these swims are also great athletic accomplishments,)
David gives his personal blessing for this new award. For those of you who attended the SBCSA banquet this year and had the opportunity to meet and chat with him. Wow, does he have some stories!
Nominated swims must adhere to traditional marathon swimming rules of which David Yudovin has followed during his marathon swimming career… even when no one was watching.