Orlando resident Yuko Matsuzaki, a long distance swimmer and International Marathon Swimming Hall of Famer, on her Guinness World Record, admirable persistence and future goals. 

1. I was almost cut from my high school swim team, in Tokyo, Japan, for swimming too slow. That motivated me to work harder. I made sure I was always the first to arrive at practice and the last to leave. Though, ultimately, I never achieved the speed of my teammates, I discovered that I could swim longer distances than they could.  

2. My first marathon swim race was a nightmare. Marathon swim races are held outdoors. I had only trained in indoor pools. I was completely unprepared for the 35-kilometer race, from Capri to Napoli, Italy. The race took me 11 hours to complete. By the end, I was sunburned, scratched up and sick to my stomach.

3. I don’t give up! Even after that disastrous race in Italy, I decided not to quit marathon swimming. I knew that if I gave up, my last memory of competing would be a bad one, so I decided to try another race. The second time around I was better prepared and that’s when I really fell in love with marathon swimming.

4. I never imagined I would be in the Guinness Book of World Records. Then one day, in 2019, my friend and fellow swimmer, Steven Munatones, invited me to the World Open Water Swimming Association’s Ocean Fest in Redondo Beach, California. Steven mentioned that the company, Endless Pools, as well as representatives from Guinness World Records would be there. I told Steven of my dream to swim in an endless pool for 24 hours straight. Steven arranged for a Guinness representative to watch over me while I swam in the endless pool. A large crowd gathered and cheered as I was about to break the previous record of 16 hours. I knew I could stop at that point and have a world record but I decided to stick to my goal and continued swimming for another eight hours. 

5. I love living in Orlando. I have traveled the world, but after taking a vacation to Disney World in 1992, I decided to make Orlando my home. When I first walked into the Rosen Aquatic Center on International Drive, I saw a huge pool with lots of lap lanes—that is heaven for a swimmer like me. Prior to the pandemic, I swam there six days a week and I am looking forward to going back. 

6. I don’t own a car. I ride my bicycle everywhere. I like to be outside as much as possible and Orlando is such a beautiful place, with its blue skies and palm trees. When I’m riding my bike, I love to feel the wind blowing on my face. 

7. One of my favorite hobbies is origami. I have been doing it since I was a child. During the pandemic I made a large bouquet of flowers. It was very difficult to do and took a long time but I smile whenever I look at them.

8. Finding Nemo and Finding Dory are my favorite movies. Whenever I am in the pool, ocean, river or lake, I think of Dory’s famous line, “Just keep swimming,” and that’s what I do!

9. My father always said, “Follow your dreams.” Most parents say that to their children when they are young but as their kids grow up, parents begin to say things like, “You can’t do that! That’s crazy!” My dad was never like that. He has always encouraged me to keep chasing my dreams.

10. My next goal is to do a triathlon, in the water. Endless Pools has created underwater bicycles and treadmills. I am really looking forward to this new adventure. I love a challenge!