10/01/2026
Yesterday was a very big day for MOWSA and one of our treasured veteran swimmers, Maura Twomey. Maura was recognized for her incredible open water swimming accomplishments at yesterday’s Boston City Council meeting!
The honor was organized by Council President Liz Breadon, and included a proclamation recognizing Maura’s remarkable achievement in not only completing the 20.5-mile Catalina Channel swim earlier this year, but doing so at age 70. She became the oldest person to ever swim that Channel, which also happened to complete her Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming (along with the 21-mile English Channel that she swam at age 59 and the 20 Bridges around Manhattan Island swim hosted by NYOW that she completed at age 67.)
Maura has long been a volunteer, swimmer, and dear friend of MOWSA, participating in several Boston Light Swim races and setting records on two solo courses last fall. She and the Boston City Council kindly extended her honor to include MOWSA, recognizing and celebrating our work supporting open water swimmers and championing clean waterways in the Commonwealth.
It was indeed an honor, and Mina Elnaccash, current president of MOWSA, summed up our mission and passion for swimming and open water so well, it truly was a special experience. You can watch the ceremony in the BCC link here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dDPxKlQ3liI&t=1058s&pp=2AGiCJACAYoIFEABShBPQ0Rib19XWFFZMVl5X19U&ra=m
Thank you to all the Councilors for your time and recognition. It was a privilege to meet you all! And a hearty well done to Maura. You are an inspiration both in and out of the water. We can’t wait to see what challenge you take on next! 🥳
