Got a note today from the remarkable Harry Briggs, the Paddlin' Prof. Until recently, his feat on Cross Lake in July was the most amazing swimming accomplishment I'd come across lately.
The 87-year-old adjunct political science professor at NSU's Leesville campus is cut from a different mold. After all, 10 years ago, on his 77th birthday, he swam 14 hours across Tampa Bay.
He carved up a 2+ mile swim in scenic Cross Lake in Shreveport last month in his annual effort to generate support for the Northwestern women's tennis team.
Last year, swimming the same course for the same cause, it took Briggs about 3:30 to cover the two-mile span of the I-220 bridge over Cross Lake. This summer, Briggs blew through in under two hours and covered an extra quarter-mile to boot.
That's a pretty amazing improvement. But after watching Michael Phelps collect eight gold medals at the Olympic Games, Harry offered these thoughts:
"My little venture seems insignificant compared to the unbelievable efforts of young Mr. Phelps. What a swimmer! His is an entirely different sport than the water marathon which involves many hours in the water -- the last of which are done without gas in the tank -- only fumes."
Briggs doesn't swim for speed. His methodical strokes are done with the highest economy of effort. But he's a world-class swimmer, just at a different tempo than Phelps.
I hope they have a chance to meet somehow. I don't see it happening in water, but with Harry's travels, who knows ... after all, he has rubbed elbows with Ted Williams and Jackie Robinson, among many others.
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