(updated 6/29/16)
Yesterday, on a truly glorious morning at Owen Beach in Tacoma, in conditions that could best be described as serene, pristine, heavenly and idyllic, with the snow-capped majesty of Mt. Rainer towering above us on the right and Vashon Island shimmering in the distance across the azure water of the Sound with a clear yet misty radiance, our own beloved Zena delivered Swim Defiance 2016!!! And man did she ever! Of course there were double the number of swimmers there were last year!!!
Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, I am speaking of the Legendary Zena Courtney, who keeps proving why she’s legendary! She has a habit of doing that! Swim Defiance 2016 yesterday lifted all of our spirits skyward, and I felt infused with a tremendous and unified energy as 62 of our best and bravest swimmers plunged gleefully into the 54 degree water taking on the 3K and 5K courses.
This was more than an open water swim- It was a massive military campaign launched, directed and executed by Zena with a cast of what seemed like scores of awesome people who threw their life blood into making this happen! Zena has that effect on people ! She would have been a great general in WW2 and probably could have shortened it!
I was most deeply moved as I always am when I stood with Mike and Jim and made out the shape of the first lone swimmer emerging off in the distance and cranking it on home. It always moves me to tears.
Trust me, people, Swim Defiance is here to stay! And I predict that it will become a national event as open water swimmers gather from everywhere to participate in this incredible and exalted aquatic challenge!
Thank you, Zena, and thank you Warrior Swimmers! Come next year because it’s an experience you’ll never forget!
COB
Hail TWIM Long live!
