The Namesake
Sid Cassidy
“Mr. Open Water”
Swimmer, coach, and a principal architect of the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim.
Few people have done as much in the water as Sid Cassidy, and fewer still have done as much for it. He was a record-setting marathon swimmer, then a championship college coach, and for decades one of the most respected officials in the sport. Across open water swimming, he is known simply as “Mr. Open Water.”
Since 2006 he has led aquatics at Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, and that is why this weekend carries his name. It honors a life spent bringing people to open water, from the youngest age-group swimmers to Olympians.
The Swimmer
Before he shaped the sport, he raced it, in pools and open water around the world.
- A North Carolina State University All-American and three-time ACC champion in the 500 and 1650 freestyle between 1975 and 1977.
- Ranked the number four professional marathon swimmer in the world in 1979, racing in the United States, Canada, and Egypt.
- Competed for the Ocean City, New Jersey Beach Patrol and went undefeated across four seasons.
- Swam and coached on the 1990 USA Swimming National Team relay that set English Channel records in both directions and for the double crossing.
The Coach
A coaching life that ran through college programs, the national team, and a South Florida dynasty.
- Head swimming coach at the University of Miami from 1993 to 1998, with earlier posts at Florida State, James Madison, Wilmington, Greater Tampa, and Atlantic City.
- Head coach of the USA Swimming National Open Water team from 1991 to 1996.
- Aquatic Director and head swim coach at Saint Andrew's School in Boca Raton since 2006.
- Named FHSAA Coach of the Year four times.
Mr. Open Water
As an administrator and Olympic official, he helped build modern open water swimming itself.
- Longtime chairman of the FINA and World Aquatics Technical Open Water Swimming Committee.
- A principal architect of the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim and a driving force behind adding it to the 2008 and 2012 Games.
- Served as the official starter for the first Olympic 10K Marathon Swim, in Beijing in 2008.
- Worked as an open water official at four consecutive Olympic Games: Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020.
- Oversaw the 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup, Grand Prix, and World Championships.
A Life in the Water
Career Timeline
Recognition
Honors & Halls of Fame
In His Words
Why He Does It
Just looking at their faces when we gave them the certificate, ‘you're invited to Tokyo,' was incredible. That's why I do this.
It's the Olympic Games. There's a whole other aura about it.
Swim the weekend that bears his name
Two days, two venues, and the same open water spirit Sid has carried for a lifetime, from the 500 meter Splash to the first 3K Knockout held in the USA.