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The Majors - Winners

Only IMSHOF Honorees are listed
 

The number of majors is presented as reference only.  It is not possible or suggested to try and equate the number of majors to career success.   Different swimmers, in different eras, with differing number of possible majors and different funding would have competed in more or fewer of these events.  Additionally, solo swimmers tended not to compete in these events.  IMSHOF has only one category for swimmers - Honorees and doesn't attempt to rank them further.  IMSHOF does not attempt to form a top 10 list or name "greatest of all time" as done by other sports.

As of 15 December 2022, there were 210 Major events (generally allowing a male and female Major winner) with a total of 430 Major winners.  The number of Major winners were increased by Amateurs (example 24 in Capri>Naples) then reduced where no females completed (example some CNE years) or completed. 

IMSHOF Honorees represented 286.5 (tied counted as 0.5) of the 430 Major winners - 66.6% (2/3rds)IMSHOF Honorees represented 286.5 (tied counted as 0.5) of the 430 Major winners - 66.6% (2/3rds)

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This shows just the Honorees with 5 or more Majors won.  It is not possible to compare swimmers across eras for many reasons:  the number of majors varied from 0 to 5 depending on the year, some early Majors (example Catalina) had a massive field and just one finisher, Other early Majors has less than 10 swimmers, current Majors like the Olympics truly have the best swimmers from around the world.  A few specific examples:

 

     Greta Andersen won 3 Majors each in 1958 and 1959 (out of a possible 4/year)

 

     Diego Degano in the years 1989-1993 had only the possibility to compete in 1 or 2     

     Majors/year

 

     Cliff Lumsdon, CM in 1952 and 1953 won the only possible Major those years

 

     Ana Marcela Cunha competes in an era with more than 3+ Majors (average)/year – but

     won against big fields with the best swimmers from around the world. 

Majors listed for each Honoree

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Abdellatief Abou Heif (7 Majors): 1963 Canadian National Exhibition; 1955 English Channel Race; 1963 and 1964 (tied) Capri to Naples; and 1964, 1965 and 1968 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

 

Aleksey Akatyev (1 Major):  1998 25 km FINA World Championship

 

David Alleva, PhD (1 Major):  1990 Capri to Naples

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Greta Andersen (14 Majors):  1961 Canadian National Exhibition;1958 and 1962 Lac St, Jean; 1957, 1958 and 1959 English Channel Race; 1956, 1967, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962 and 1963 Around Atlantic City; and 1959 Capri to Naples [beat all men in the 1958 Lac St. Jean and 1957 and 1958 English Channel Race]

 

Paul Asmuth (10 Majors):  1982, 1987 and 1988 Capri to Naples; and 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

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Leonie Beck (3 Majors):  2023 World Aquatics 10 km World Championship; 2020 FINA Marathon Swim World Series Cup; and 2023 World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup

 

Marilyn Bell (1 Major): 1954 Around Atlantic City

 

Tina Bischoff (1 Major): 1980 Capri to Naples

 

Damián Blaum (1 Major): 2013 FINA Grand Prix Series

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Arianna Bridi (1 Major): 2017 FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup

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Rachele Bruni (3 Majors): 2015 and 2016 FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup; and 2019 FINA Marathon Swim World Series Cup

 

Peggy Büchse (3 Majors):  1998 and 1999 FINA Marathon Swimming World Series; and 2001 10 km FINA World Championship

 

Karen Burton Reeder (3 Majors):  1995/1996 and 1996/1997 Marathon Swimming World Series Championship and 1992 FINA Long Distance Swimming World Cup

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Alfredo Camarero (4 Majors): 1959 English Channel Race; 1955 and 1956 Capri to Naples and 1957 Around Atlantic City

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Allan do Carmo (1 Major):  2014 FINA Marathon Swimming World Cup Series

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Anne Chagnaud (1 Major):  1997 FINA Marathon Swimming World Series

 

Christine Cossette (2 Majors):  1980 and 1981 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

 

Ana Marcela Cunha (13 Majors):  2010, 2012 and 2014 FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup; 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022 25 km FINA World Championship; 2018, 2021 (tied) and 2022 FINA Marathon Swim World Series Cup

; 2021 Olympics; and 2024 World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup

 

Melissa Cunningham Roberts (2 Majors):  1996 FINA Long Distance Swimming World Cup; and 1994 25 km FINA World Championship

 

Silvia Beatríz Dalotto (1 Major):  1990 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

 

Brojen Das (1 Major): 1958 English Channel Race

 

Penny Lee Dean, EdD (1 Major): 1979 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

 

Diego Degano (6 Majors): 1989 and 1992 Capri to Naples; 1989 and 1990 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation; 1991 International Marathon Swimming Federation World Ranking and 1992/1993 Marathon Swimming World Series Championship

 

Edith van Dijk (9 Majors):  2000, 2001 and 2005 FINA Marathon Swimming World Series; 2000 10 km and 2000 and 2002 25 km FINA World Open Water Swimming Championship; and 2005 10 km and 2003 and 2005 25 km FINA World Championship

 

Captain Nabil Elshazly (5 Majors):  1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964 Amateur Capri to Naples [1st overall in 1962 beating all professionals] and 1964 Lac St. Jean.

 

Nasser Elshazly (3 Majors):  1976 and 1977 Amateur and 1983 Capri to Naples [1st overall in 1977 beating all professionals]

 

Brenda Fisher, BEM (2 Majors):  1951 and 1954 English Channel Race

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Pilar Geijo (5 Majors):  2010, 2011, 2014 (tied) and 2015 FINA Grand Prix Series; and 2019 FINA UltraMarathon Swim Series

 

Spiros Gianniotis (3 Majors):  2012 FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup and 2011 and 2013 10 km FINA World Championship

 

Elaine Gray (1 Major):  1966 BLDSA Windermere International Championship

 

Martina Grimaldi (2 Majors):  2010 10 km FINA World Open Water Swimming Championship and 2013 25 km FINA World Championship

 

Trent Grimsey (1 Major):  2012 FINA Grand Prix Series

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Suzanne Heim-Bowen (1 Major):  1988 FINA Long Distance Swimming World Cup (amateur)

 

Chad Hundeby (3 Majors):  1994 FINA Long Distance Swimming World Cup; 1993/1994 FINA Marathon Swimming World Series and 1991 25 km FINA World Championship

 

Horacio Iglesias (5 Majors):  1967, 1969, 1971, 1972 and 1973 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

 

Larisa Dmitriyevna Ilchenko: (4 Majors):  2006 and 2008 10 km FINA World Open Water Swimming Championship; 2007 10 km FINA World Championship and 2008 Olympics

 

Helge Jensen (2 Majors):  1958 and 1959 Lac St. Jean

 

Britta Kamrau (6 Majors):  2003 and 2006 FINA Marathon Swimming World Series; 2002 and 2004 10 km and 2004 25 km FINA World Open Water Swimming Championship; and 2007 25 km FINA World Championship

 

James Kegley (1 Major):  1987 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

 

Jerry Kerschner (1 Major):  1951 Canadian National Exhibition

 

John Kinsella (7 Majors): 1979 English Channel Race; 1978 Capri to Naples; and 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

 

Yuri Kudinov (5 Majors):  2000 and 2002 25 km FINA World Open Water Swimming Championship; and 2001, 2003 and 2007 25 km FINA World Championship

 

Irene van der Laan (4 Majors):  1983 and 1987 Capri to Naples; 1989 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation; and 1982 BLDSA Windermere International Championship

 

Regent LaCoursiere (1 Major):  1960 Lac St. Jean

 

Annemie Landmeters (1 Major):  1988 Capri to Naples

 

Stéphane Lecat (3 Majors):  1997, 1999 and 2000 FINA Marathon Swimming World Series

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Jaime Lomelín Gavaldón (1 Major):  1988 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

 

Cliff Lumsdon, CM (7 Majors):  1949, 1950, 1952, 1953 and 1955 Canadian National Exhibition; and 1956 and 1959 Around Atlantic City

 

Thomas Lurz (7 Majors):  2009, 2011 and 2013 FINA Marathon Swimming World Cup; 2004 10 km, 2006 10 km, 2009 10 km and 2013 25 km FINA World Championship.  Additionally, Olympic medals 2008 Bronze and 2012 Silver plus other FINA World Championships at 5 km and Team.

 

Alawi Mohammed Makki Al-Ibrahim (1 Major):  1978 English Channel Race

 

Angela Maurer (7 Majors):  2002 and 2004 FINA Marathon Swimming World Series; 2007, 2008 and 2011 FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup; 2006 25 km FINA World Open Water Swimming Championship; and 2009 25 km FINA World Championship

 

Attila Molnár (1 Major):  1994/1995 Marathon Swimming World Series Championship

 

Magda Molnár (1 Major):  1958 Capri to Naples

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Aurélie Muller (2 Majors):  2015 and 2017 10 km FINA World Championship

 

Steven Muñatones (1 Major):  1982 BLDSA Windermere International Championship

 

Marvin "Duke" Nelson (3 Majors): 1930, 1933 and 1934 Canadian National Exhibition

 

Marc Newman (2 Majors):  1986 (Windermere) and 1988 FINA Long Distance Swimming World Cup

 

Cynthia Nicholas, CM (2 Majors):  1979 English Channel Race; and 1976 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

 

Judith de Nijs (11 Majors):  1965, 1966, 1967 and 1970 Capri to Naples; 1964 Lac St. Jean and 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1970 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

 

Martha Norelius (1 Major): 1929 Canadian National Exhibition

 

Esther Nuñez Morera (2 Majors): 2007 and 2012 FINA Grand Prix Series

 

Diana Nyad (2 Majors):  1974 Capri to Naples and 1974 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

 

Poliana Okimoto (2 Majors):  2009 FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup and 2013 10km FINA World Championship

 

Tom Park (4 Majors): 1956 English Channel Race; and 1954, 1955 and 1968 Around Atlantic City

 

Baptista Pereira (1 Major): 1954 English Channel Race

 

Claudio Plit (5 Majors):  1979, 1980, 1981 and 1986 Capri to Naples and 1975 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

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Dr. Evgenij Pop Acev (3 Majors): 2015 and 2017 tied FINA Grand Prix Series and 2019 FINA UltraMarathon Swim Series

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Francis "Frank" Pritchard (1 Major):  1937 Canadian National Exhibition

 

Shadia El Rageb (4 Majors): 1971 and 1972 Capri to Naples and 1971 and 1972 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

 

Dr. Michael P. Read, MBE (1 Major):  1970 BLDSA Windermere International Championship

 

Hassan Abdel Rehim (1 Major): 1950 English Channel Race

 

Éva Risztov: (1 Major):  2012 Olympics

 

Veljko Rogošić (4 Majors): 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974 Capri to Naples

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Sharon van Rouwendaal (4 Majors):  2016 Olympics; 2022 10km FINA World Championship; 2024 World Aquatics 10 km World Championship; and 2024 Olympics

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Simone Ruffini (3 Majors):  2015 25km World Championship and 2016 and 2017 FINA 10km World Cup

 

Johannes “Johan” Schans (1 Major):  1970 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

 

Marty Sinn (4 Majors):  1962 and 1963 Canadian National Exhibition; 1964 Around Atlantic City; and 1963 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

 

Tomi Stefanovski (1 Major): 2016 (tied) FINA Grand Prix Series

 

Petar Stoychev (12 Majors):  2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 FINA Marathon Swimming World Cup; 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 FINA Grand Prix Series; and 2011 25 km FINA World Championship

 

Dr. Greg Streppel, PharmD (2 Majors):  1992 FINA Long Distance Swimming World Cup; and 1994 25 km FINA World Championship

 

Shelley Taylor-Smith (7 Majors):  1990 Capri to Naples; 1991 International Marathon Swimming Federation World Ranking; 1992/1993 Marathon Swimming World Series Championship; 1988 and 1994 FINA Long Distance Swimming World Cup; 1993/1994 FINA Marathon Swimming World Series; and 1991 25 km FINA World Championship [in 1991 highest number of International Marathon Swimming Federation World Ranking Points of all swimmers]

 

Patty Thompson (1 Major):  1969 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

 

Giulio Travaglio (6 Majors):  1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1970 Capri to Naples and 1966 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

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Viola Valli (2 Majors):  2003 10 km FINA World Open Water Swimming Championship and 2001 25 km FINA World Championship

 

Ernst Vierkoetter (1 Major): 1927 Canadian National Exhibition

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Ferry Weertman (3 Majors):   2017 10 km FINA World Championship; 2016 Rio Olympics; and 2018 FINA World Series Cup

 

Maarten van der Weijden (2 Majors):  2008 25 km FINA World Open Water Swimming Championship; and 2008 Olympics

 

Monique Wildschut (8 Majors): 1986 and 1989 Capri to Naples and 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

 

Herman Willemse (11 Majors):  1961 and 1962 Canadian National Exhibition; 1961, 1962 and 1963 Lac St Jean; 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964 Around Atlantic City; and 1963 World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation

 

Steve Wozniak (1 Major):  1948 Canadian National Exhibition

 

George Young (2 Majors): 1927 Wrigley Ocean Marathon Race and 1931 Canadian National Exhibition

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