More than 350 military veterans, first responders and civilians are expected to participate in the seventh annual New York City SEAL Swim, a demanding multi-sport challenge that spans 3.5 miles across the Hudson River, on Aug. 16.
Starting at Liberty State Park in New Jersey and ending at the World Trade Center, the event honors fallen heroes and supports the mission of The Navy SEAL Foundation.
“The NYC SEAL Swim is more than a physical test; it’s a statement of unity and unwavering support for our most elite warriors and their families,” said NSF CEO Robin King. “It honors those we’ve lost and helps ensure their families are never left behind.”
The course includes three swim legs with stops at some of the nation’s most iconic landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. At each stop, participants will complete 100 push-ups and 22 pull-ups before continuing on.
Former Navy SEAL Alex Rogers participated in his first swim in 2022 and will be back in the water this Saturday..
“I trained really hard, I stopped doing everything else,” he said of his preparation for the 2022 swim. “I jogged a little bit, but I was swimming probably three, four miles a week, in the pool, some open water stuff.”
Rogers called that first swim “pretty easy.” In 2023, he began swimming about six weeks out from the event.
“The third year, I don’t think I swam at all. I think I just did it,” he said.
And this year?
“I haven’t swum in probably over a year,” he said with another laugh.
Rogers said he initially got involved with the swim because he was looking for a cause to support.
“It was doing something hard with people who wanted to do hard things and raise money for some people who need some help,” he explained.
The event concludes with each swimmer running with an American flag from Battery Park to the World Trade Center, paying tribute to the lives lost on 9/11.
“You can’t get more American than that,” he said. “There’s the fire trucks, NYFD, NYPD, there’s hundreds and hundreds of people.”
Last year’s event raised over $600,000 to support the NSF’s mission. All proceeds fund over 30 critical programs serving active duty SEALs, veterans and their families.
Learn more here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.