SHE DID IT! Erika Norris becomes first Bremerton to Alki Point swimmer in 50+ years

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2:29 PM: On the shore at Alki Point, swimmer Erika Norris hugged her dad Jim after she became the first person in more than half a century to swim from Bremerton to Alki Point. She finished the “Amy Hiland Swim” – named after the woman who did it in 1959 – moments ago. We first reported on Thursday about the Northwest Open Water Swimming Association‘s announcement of Norris’s 10.4-mile swim.

3:10 PM: NOWSA says Erika’s official time was 4:09:20; Amy Hiland’s 1959 time was an hour and a half longer, according to the coverage linked in the first paragraph.

ADDED 5:24 PM: Our video as Erika came ashore:

Some of the people who hiked out onto the rocky shore at low tide to watch:

swimmeronlookers

Here’s what they saw as she approached, with the accompanying sailboat:

20160904 142028 Erika Norris and support boat approaching Alki Point - Bremerton to Alki Point swim - 1024x1365

(That photo and the next one are by David Hutchinson.)

20160904 142204 Erika Norris at Alki Point - Bremerton to Alki Point swim - 1024x1366

Even before this, Erika was an accomplished swimmer, as explained in the bio published when she was named to the New York University Hall of Fame last year.

33 Replies to "SHE DID IT! Erika Norris becomes first Bremerton to Alki Point swimmer in 50+ years"

  • kumalavula September 4, 2016 (2:37 pm)

    wow, wow, WOW, erika! i’m thrilled for you! that’s no small feat and while it probably feels surreal right now and may take a day or two to really sink in, make sure to revel in the glory of your accomplishment.  

  • Question Mark September 4, 2016 (2:37 pm)

    It was a beautiful day for a swim. She made it look so easy …

  • Susan Holland September 4, 2016 (2:42 pm)

    I am so so glad to see this picture.  The facebook coverage mysteriously quit just before she arrived.
    I have had to search all over just to see her on land!  I hope there is some video that can be shared about Erika Norris’ glorious arrival in Alki after swimming more than ten miles from Bremerton today. To Erika:  Huzzah and Whooppee!

    Susan Holland

  • Alki resident #3 September 4, 2016 (2:50 pm)

    YAYYYYYYYY! Big Congrats on a Big Deal! Loved following your swim on the swim tracker! Beautiful day for a swim. Hope it was fun.

  • Martha September 4, 2016 (3:00 pm)

    Congratulations!   

  • AMD September 4, 2016 (3:14 pm)

    Congratulations, Erika!

  • K'lo September 4, 2016 (3:17 pm)

    WELL DONE!!

  • Doree Fazio-Young September 4, 2016 (3:21 pm)

    Way to go Erika!!!!!!

  • Pamela September 4, 2016 (3:31 pm)

    Amazing accomplishment! So proud of you Erika!

  • miws September 4, 2016 (3:49 pm)

    Congrats, Erika! 

    Mike

  • Brenda September 4, 2016 (4:10 pm)

    Wow!! You are SO freakin awesome!!!! 

  • Al September 4, 2016 (4:54 pm)

    Congrates Erika….

  • cil September 4, 2016 (5:20 pm)

    So incredibly inspiring! Way to go! 

  • Debra Alderman September 4, 2016 (5:33 pm)

    We took a break from the tour at the Alki Point Lighthouse to watch Erika come ashore!  It was really fun to have something exciting as her swim to celebrate today!  

    Alki Point Lighthouse

  • RC September 4, 2016 (5:40 pm)

    Congrats!

  • Mark September 4, 2016 (6:26 pm)

    Awesome!

  • Joan & Marty Krafcik September 4, 2016 (6:52 pm)

    Congratulations! Sad that the media didn’t cover your achievement better. You are amazingly. 

  • Janelle September 4, 2016 (7:07 pm)

    Wow ! And no wet suit ? That’s bad ass. 

  • Neil September 4, 2016 (7:11 pm)

    That’s crazy cool! Interesting feat to add to one’s life.

  • Melissa Weissman September 4, 2016 (7:13 pm)

    Congrats! 

  • kap September 4, 2016 (7:35 pm)

    So cool, congrats!!!

  • ScubaFrog September 4, 2016 (9:13 pm)

    Congrats Erika!  What a feat!!

  • WGA September 4, 2016 (9:38 pm)

    Brava!!

    But thanks also for the link to the old newspapers! I’ll be happily lost in those for a while!

  • BettytheYeti September 4, 2016 (11:42 pm)

    Erika does make it LOOK easy, it is not!!!  Erika you are a super swimming star of the NAA.

    • BettytheYeti September 4, 2016 (11:47 pm)

      That is the NAS -Notorious Alki Swimmers, like the cap Erika is wearing.  Not NAA, so much for auto correct.

  • JoB September 5, 2016 (7:50 am)

    big congratulations!

  • Poolswimmer September 5, 2016 (9:35 am)

    Wow! What an amazing swim! Congratulations!

  • steve September 5, 2016 (7:40 pm)

    Wow! What an amazing woman! I put my foot in the water and feel frozen to the bone.  This should be world news.  If I was there, I surely would have given her a warmer blanket/towel.  ha ha. Probably didn’t need it though.

    Damn, that is impressive.  Proud of ya’.  From here I hope.

  • Loufa September 6, 2016 (8:40 am)

    Congratulations Erika!

  • Nigel September 6, 2016 (1:25 pm)

    What a triumph!  Congratulations – a remarkable feat.

  • Sam-c September 6, 2016 (6:10 pm)

    Wow! That is so awesome.   Congrats Erika!!

  • Brian September 7, 2016 (1:15 pm)

    Well swum!

  • Elton September 7, 2016 (3:28 pm)

    Anyone else find it especially impressive that she did this in a bikini? It must take superhuman body temperature regulation to not require a wet suit for this journey. Congrats!

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