In July 2010, Ray Gandy swam continuously for 20 hours 17 minutes, double-circumnavigating Conanicut Island in Rhode Island. The swim covered 41.2 miles, and Gandy is officially listed in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (IMSHOF) and on www.openwatersource.com as holding two world records: the first person to swim around Conanicut Island and the first person to circumnavigate the island twice.
Gandy, now 49, began as an age group swimmer growing up in West Virginia, conquering several state records and receiving national ranking. He attended Clarion University of Pennsylvania on a swimming scholarship and was a repeat NCAA Division II All-American. But tragedy struck and Gandy was forced to take a lengthy hiatus. ...
After the birth of his daughter Jessica in October 1990, Gandy’s wife Donna was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia in 1992. Since the disease could not go into remission, Donna was told that she could let the disease run its course or undergo a bone marrow transplant with a mere 38% success rate. Donna underwent the risky transplant in April 1993. “She has been a large part of our daughter’s life, and mine too,” Gandy told StrengthUSA.com. “There were several close calls over that time, but we [still] value each and every day.”
In 2000, with his wife virtually recovered, Gandy started to swim again. The first couple of years following his return to the water, Gandy competed in several Master’s swim meets and achieved national Top 10 age group times, and All-American status. Shortly after, he began open water swimming, starting with the annual Save the Bay (1.7 miles) Swim in Newport, Rhode Island. Two weeks later, Gandy swam across Lake Champlain (8 miles). “I was ecstatic,” he said. Gandy’s also conquered the Long Island Sound (15 miles), Tampa Bay (24 miles) and Lake George (25 miles). In 2007, he was the only male representing the United States at the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix at Lake Memphremagog in Canada. Gandy won the Boston Light Swim in both 2007 and 2008. Then, in August 2009, Gandy became the first Rhode Islander to swim the English Channel (13 hours 34 minutes).
“As much as I revel in swimming extreme challenges, I am much more excited that we have raised [over $10,000] for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Rhode Island,” Gandy said. “I look forward to continuing to challenge my mind and body in the hope of meeting personal goals, inspiring others, and raising funds and awareness.”
To learn more about Gandy and his upcoming world record attempt this summer, visit http://www.rayswims.com/.
