Location
Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California, USA
Date
September 1, 2003
Distance
4.8 km
About This Swim
In 2003, James became the first blind person to complete a double crossing of the infamous Alcatraz swim in San Francisco Bay, swimming from Alcatraz to San Francisco and back.
The Alcatraz swim is one of the world's most famous open water challenges, made legendary by the "impossible" escape attempts from the infamous prison. A double crossing - swimming from Alcatraz to San Francisco and back - requires exceptional skill, strength, and determination.
In 2003, James Pittar became the first blind person to complete this double crossing, navigating the treacherous currents, cold waters, and busy shipping lanes of San Francisco Bay twice in succession - a remarkable achievement that demonstrated his world-class swimming ability.