About
Began in 1969 by Buck Dawson, founding executive director of the ISHOF. It was first called the Galt Ocean Mile Swim as the mile race took place on the newly-developed condo strip of the Fort Lauderdale beach known as Galt Ocean Mile and was known as the race with the largest spectator audience – over 50,000 people who theoretically would be looking out of their condo/apartment windows. Race sign up was on the seawall of the north end of the Mile and the finish was at the last hotel on the Mile – one mile to the south. No lifeguards or safety crew – swimmers were asked to bring their own “lifeguard” to walk the beach as they swam.
After a few years, the Fort Lauderdale Beach Patrol patrolled the course with their beach jeep and in the early 1980’s suggested that the swim move three miles south to the part of Fort Lauderdale Beach which maintained lifeguard stations. It became known as the International Swimming Hall of Fame Ocean Mile Swim. It has been held here ever since – now in the 40th year. Even though the race is on Jan 2nd, it is the 2009 race.
Originally the race was set up as an event for the College Coaches Swim Forum which has been meeting at the old Casino Pool and now the Hall of Fame Pool since 1935, although everyone was invited to participate. At one time in the late 1980’s and 1990’s, we had over 650 swimmers, all before electronic-chip timing. Most of these were college swimmers. In 2008, the race was renamed the Fort Lauderdale Roughwater Swim.
Ft. Lauderdale has awe-inspiring miles of blue waterways, as inviting as soft golden sands and as soothing as gentle ocean breezes. If your next getaway is in Greater Fort Lauderdale, that is.
Take a glance at our diverse hotels, arts and entertainment on Hollywood Beach and at Downtown Riverwalk, diving from Deerfield to Hallandale Beach, a world of golf and more. The more you do, the more you’ll marvel. Feel the caress of nature at Butterfly World or get your heart pounding with thoroughbred racing at Gulfstream Park. Plan a spa day or a day cruise. And area museums invite you to explore acclaimed art, culture, science and history exhibits. Meanwhile world-class entertainment and gaming are well within reach. Every visit is a fresh taste of paradise, from the Blue Wave beaches to the yacht-filled waterways to the exotic Everglades. Enjoy a welcome change of pace in Greater Fort Lauderdale.