Join us for an iconic 2.2 mile swim from the Statue Liberty to the Freedom Tower.
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Liberty to Freedom Swim
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Get Involved
URBANSWIM is dedicated to providing safe access to local waterways, and to supporting the cause of clean water.
Join us in our efforts by volunteering to participate in URBANSWIM events.
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Welcome to URBANSWIM
URBANSWIM events are multi-distance open water challenges designed to get you out into the open water where you live.
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Meet Marielle.
Meet Mareille Veenman.
4 years ago, I started swimming in the canals of Amsterdam, for a 2KM swim event called the “Amsterdam City Swim”, a sponsorship swim for ALS.
After that I was hooked on open water swimming. So, together with a group of other happy swimmers, we created the swim club, “Open Water Swimming Amsterdam.”
I swam about 4 days a week and got to know “Total Immersion” swimming, a technique founded by Terry Laughlin from USA. I thought I was hooked before, but now I was reeled in completely!
In Windsor England I got the great opportunity to become a Total Immersion swim coach. That was a year ago and now I am a level 3 TI swim coach, specialized in open water swimming and sea swimming. And now, I have my own company, “Swimsensation” where we’re dedicated to coaching open water swimming.
I heard about the Liberty to Freedom Swim through Tom Flaherty! When he was in Amsterdam last year, he joined our swimming group and a week after that, he joined us at a 7KM open water swim competition. We stayed in touch and he asked me (well, he told me) to come to NYC to enter this swim event. I couldn’t say no to that, could I? So now I will fly over to NYC, just for this swim. Alright, and also to meet up with Tom again.
I’ve set a goal for myself, to do at least one special swim in a foreign country each year and this year, it will be the 3rd of September in the amazing city of NYC!
We can’t wait to see her at the #LibertyToFreedomSwim. Best of luck to her!
Thank you to everyone who followed Simona’s progress yesterday and for the good thoughts and messages you showered her with. Everything came together perfectly. Simona swam with three other swimmers, one of whom did the entire 17 miles butterfly!!!
It was a perfect day to be out in the water and Simona had a good start assisted by two kayakers, Iris and Margrethe, who helped her catch the best currents. We were traveling alongside in aboat expertly guided by Tom and Jim who helped protect Simona from other river traffic.
Joining us on the boat was Mo, who served as the observer, ensuring all the rules were followed and keeping the official log. Despite some minor internet difficulties and motion sickness we were able to post some updates.
On land, our friends Musa, Fionn, and Nathan provided support for Urban Swim to make Simona’s swim possible.
Simona swam steadily and with determination, stopping only to drink water,chicken soup, and diluted oatmeal.
Being Simona, we did not hear about her being bothered with a case of sea lice bites until later in the day and her only complaint was of being cold and having leg pain from kicking fast to keep warm.
The extra kicking helped her swim the course in the record time of 4:34:02. She was so fast that no one was completely ready for her early arrival!
Simona has dedicated this swim to friend and fellow swimmer Steve Kramer, who was one of the biggest supporters of her open water swimming. We found out after the swim that he had not survived the night. In Steve’s spirit of modesty and nonchalance, it seemed fitting that she could finish the swim and exit the water taking everyone by surprise. Our cousins Ken, Patti and Sarah were there to greet her and take photos of the finish from the beach.
