BIG SHOULDERS 5K SWIM

ABOUT BIG SHOULDERS: THE STORY OF THE RACE

The Big Shoulders 5K Swim: a Lake Michigan-size test of guts, determination and fortitude amidst the chilly, windswept waves. Fresh-water, long distance swimming: an event in a hostile environment at which humans are not supposed to excel, and yet excel they do. While most of Chicago and the sane world sleeps on the first Sunday after Labor Day each year, tough competitors take on the 3.1 miles-worth of Lake Michigan's currents, turbulence and temperature inversions, just for the sake of saying they have "big shoulders".

Founded in 1990 by Olympic Gold Medal winner ('60 Rome breaststroke) Bill Mulliken, Big Shoulders has grown to be one of the premier open-water races in the United States. As Bill is fond of saying, "Big Shoulders is the world's most architecturally significant race." Big Shoulders serves to highlight and benefit the year-round effort of the Chicago Masters Swim Team as well as accentuate the accomplishment and camaraderie of all swimmers in the Chicagoland area and those who come to join us from afar.


The Challenge to Champions: An aerial view of the course from the Hancock Tower. Two times around earns you your "big shoulders"

In 1998, Big Shoulders stepped definitively onto the national scene as Tom Boettcher became the first in the world to complete the 5K fresh-water course all butterfly. National publication Fitness Swimmer featured the race and his butterfly innovations amidst the backdrop of Chicago's skyline and Lake Michigan. Boettcher completed his third straight all-butterfly Big Shoulders at the Millennial 2000 National Championship 5K event.

Through the efforts of Chris Sheean and Kathleen Pisula, Big Shoulders met the standards necessary to become a National 5K Open Water Masters Championship for the year 2000. As Big Shoulders grows in stature and reputation, it is easy to remember why this race holds a special place in everyone's hearts. Swum directly under the watchful sentry of the mighty John Hancock, the towering Amoco, the flowing Lake Point Tower, and the still-provocative Mies Van der Rohe International Style residences, Big Shoulders remains an event in which anyone with true grit can participate at any time. In fact, all the time. Five special swimmers have competed in every Big Shoulders since its 1990. The 6 "Iron Shoulders" Award winners are swimmers who have completed the first 12 Big Shoulders: George Wendt, Dennis Miller, Tim Griffin, Tim Kelly, Leo Algminas, and Laurie Tanimura.

Big Shoulders is stage for perhaps one of the most significant trends in US athletics today: the nullification of age-progressive factors on peak performance. George Wendt, a perennial favorite in and out of the water, won Big Shoulders while in his 40's and continues to finish within strokes of the top three into his fifth decade. Richard Kramer won three in a row as a mid-thirties cruiser. During the 2000 Championship 5K event, 8 out of the top ten finishers were over 30, two over 40, and of course, George Wendt is still stroking strong. For the female 5k, 6 out of 10 were over 30. And this story repeats itself throughout the race - John Martin, Dave Ackerman, Phil Dodson, John Becker, Ted Soltys, Tom McCabe, Chris Sheean, Patty Redig, Becky Heller, Susie Straub, and the list goes on and on - all continue to set a blistering pace as the wisdom of experience couples with the enthusiasm to compete.

So who has Big Shoulders? The likes of former race winner George Wendt, swimming younger and faster every year. Three-time champion Richard Kramer demonstrating that hometown talent can swim at a world-class level. Joy Stover, who constantly finishes first or near there for the females every year.

And yet these are not the only champions of the race. Throughout the pack, masters swimmers from all persuasions and predispositions come to conquer the distance. Champions like Chris Sheean and Kathleen Pisula, coordinating the race then giving all in the water. Champions like John Becker, Delph Gustidies and Russ Hafner with super-distance credentials. Champions like Cathy Grey, John Mitchell, and John and Gale Martin, whose passion for swimming has helped fuel the tremendous growth of swimming events like Big Shoulders and Swim Across America. Champions like the onshore volunteers and lifeguards who make the event possible. Champions like the swimmers sharing blankets and towels and demonstrating the athletic camaraderie associated with a task well-done. Champions well-supported by family and friends.

Finally, every swimmer that comes to the Lake that Sunday morning, starting with a jittery stomach and swimming with guts, finishes with a personal version of the title "Champion". Think you are made of that kind of stuff? Come join us for the Big Shoulders event: swim, cheer or volunteer -- we just want to see you here!

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