By Elaine K Howley
When you think of titans of marathon swimming you probably think of Matthew Webb, Gertrude Ederle or Commander Gerald Forsberg. Wait, who? Webb and Ederle are all but household names, particularly among marathon swimmers, and their ground-breaking efforts in the Ditch have not been easily forgotten. But Forsberg? If you’ve never heard of him you’re not alone. Nevertheless, his legacy quite possibly surpasses that of Webb and Ederle, making him perhaps the most influential swimmer and administrator you’ve likely never heard of.
But there once was a time when Forsberg was one of the most widely renowned and respected of British swimmers. For more than 40 years, Forsberg was a force to be reckoned with in British long-distance open water swimming, and his efforts helped create a variety of events, including the race across Windermere, that live on today. With his extensive swimming experience, his pioneering spirit and his ability to pass his knowledge on to others, Forsberg should be remembered as a towering figure in British marathon swimming.