On Jun 11, 2017 at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary, NC Ryan Held, 2016 Rio Gold Medalist and 2016 Invictus Gold Medalist Tim Payne, participate in the Mudpuppies Swim Across America Memorial Event For Dr. Brian Goldman.
Ryan Held, Tim Payne, Henry Cantrell (winner of the Mudpuppy Award), as well as Betsy Goldman (sister of Dr Brian Goldman) swam in the honorary first wave of Brian’s Mile of Hope. Brian’s Mile of Hope is a 1 mile indoor open water swim.
Tim Payne is the 2016 Invictus Gold Medalist, a veteran of the Afghanistan War, and is a double amputee. Despite loosing both his legs and part of his right arm, Tim Payne swam the entire 1 mile event.
Ryan Held is the 2016 Rio Olympic Gold Medalist. In 2017, he was part of the NCAA CHAMPION team for the 800 Freestyle Relay, made ALL-AMERICA HONORS in the 50, 100 Freestyle; 100 Butterfly; 200, 400, 800 Freestyle Relays; 200 Medley Relay. He was ALL-ACC for the 50, 100 Freestyle; 100 Butterfly; 200, 400, 800 Freestyle Relays; 200 Medley Relay. He was the
ACC CHAMPION in 50, 100 Freestyle; 100 Butterfly; 200, 400, 800 Freestyle Relays; 200 Medley Relay, the ACC Most Valuable Swimmer, the ACC Male Swimmer of the Year, and part of the ALL-ACC ACADEMIC TEAM.
After the conclusion of Brian’s Mile of Hope, we had Olympic Clinics for swimming and water polo. Ryan Held (2016 Olympic Gold Medalist), Elaine Breeden (2008 Olympic Silver Medalist) and Erika Braun (multiple world masters record holder) ran the swim clinic while Alex Rousseau (1992 and 1996 Olympian water polo).
Every 15 minutes, 50 Americans are diagnosed with cancer. This is a sobering reality. But, the good news is that every year millions of Americans are beating cancer through advancements in treatments. Swim Across America, the official charity for swimmers, exists to raise money for our network of doctors and researchers who are the pioneers developing new cures and treatments to this dreaded disease. Michael Phelps and over 100 Olympians support SAA.
We are still accepting donations here: www.swimacrossamerica.org/mudp
Press Release courtesy of Swim Across America.