There are many ways to commemorate marathon swims - the display of charts and certificates, pebbles, tattoos, blogs, videos....even car registration plates. This page showcases some of these swim momentos.
If you would like to add your momento to the site, please e-mail a picture and a brief description of what it represents to you to me at k dot throsby at warwick dot ac dot uk.
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A swim tattoo cautionary tale
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Andrew Vidler: Andrew's flag tattoo incorporates an arrow - a reference to his wife who supported him throughout.
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Chantelle Le Guilcher: Chantelle's stylised wave tattoo, underscored by swim dates, was a gift from her parents to celebrate her successful Round Jersey and Jersey to France swims.
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Cliff Golding: Cliff chose this Peanuts cartoon of Charlie Brown jumping for joy after a number of unsuccessful swims and just prior to his first successful one.
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Elaine Kornbau Howley: Elaine collects a stone from the start and finish of each swim, and her husband writes on the details in metallic paint.
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Elaine Kornbau Howley: Elaine's tattoo (by Molly H McKinnon), is on her left thigh, and celebrates completing the Triple Crown.
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Hank McGovern: Hank is swimming the English Channel in 2013, and had this car license plate made to inspire him.
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Julie Farrell: Julie chose this tattoo - a pair of goggles - to represent not only her Channel swim, but her journey through swimming from a competitive pool career cut short by ankle injuries to successful marathon swimmer.
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Karen Throsby: I bought this in La Jolla, San Diego after my Catalina swim, but it represents all of the long swims I've done.
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Lynn Kubasek: Lynn has displayed her Catalina Channel pebble on top of one of her own art pieces.
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Marcy Macdonald: Marcy's tattoo - Tawanda the mermaid - represents the power and importance of the water and of her 'mer-family' to her.
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Mike Ball: Mike had this car registration plate made to commemorate his successful English Channel swim in 2009
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Ranie Pearce: Ranie felt that she should be 'changed' by such a big event, and wanted a permanent reminder that she had done something difficult.
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Rob Kent: Rob's tattoos mark a series of endurance sport achievements, including Ironman, Boston Marathon, Marathon des Sable and MIMS, with more planned.
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Sam Jones: Sam's dad fashioned this oak block to display pebbles from a solo English Channel swim, and 3 and 6 person relays.
