Press Kit

About Anne Cleveland

Yoga:

  • E-RYT 500  (Registered Yoga Teacher, Yoga Alliance)
    • 500 Hour Certification — Master Yoga Foundation 2000-2001
    • 200 Hour Vinyasa Certification 2011
    • Advanced Training in Raja Yoga
    • Advanced Training in Teaching Restorative Hatha Yoga
  • Reiki Master Teacher Level III
  • Embodyment® Training — Master Yoga Foundation
  • Certified in Quantum Touch Hands-on Healing
  • Training in Ayurvedic Principles, Lifestyle, Nutrition, Anatomy & Physiology, Sanskrit and Marma Chikitsa — Ayurvedic Institute, Dr Vasant Lad
  • Yoga for Cancer Therapy Training
  • iRest Yoga Nidra Meditation — Richard Miller PhD
  • Current member — International Association of Yoga Therapists
  • Current member — National Ayurvedic Medical Association

Open Water Swimming:

  • Completed many long distance open water swims around the world, including the Catalina Channel and English Channel, both one-way and two-ways
  • Former World Record Holder: oldest person to complete 2-way English Channel swimStar Pinup Photo
  • Coach and Official Observer for English and Catalina Channel swims
  • Experienced at coaching Open Water swimming races at the elite level
  • Open Water Consultant to Swim Coaches
  • Recognized by San Diego Unified School District for developing yoga programs for high school swimmers — 2013 Hall of Fame Inductee
  • 2012-13 Online Open Water Coach for United States Masters Swimming
  • International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Inductee – Honour Swimmer, 2010

Downloadable Photos

Click any image below to be taken to a large version of the image available for download and use by members of the press.

Open Water Swim CV

Catalina Channel (Catalina to Mainland)
Escort Boat: Bottomscratcher
Sept 16, 1999 (unsuccessful)
I passed out from hypothermia 6 miles from the finish after 6 hours 40 minutes in the water.  Unseasonably cold sea temps that year due to la nina weather pattern combined with a cold, windy night proved to be too much for me on this one, my first channel swim attempt at the age of 43.

Maui Channel Swim (10 miles, Lanai to Maui)
Sept 2000 – 4 hrs 9 mins
Sept 2001 – 5 hrs 22 mins
I completed this swim as part of the Maui Channel Swim event held annually on Labor Day weekend.

Catalina Channel (Catalina to Mainland)
Escort Boat: Bottomscratcher
August 24, 2001 – 10 hrs 15 mins
Successful swim in conditions so rough my crew including John York, David Clark, Bob West, Frank Reynolds and other seasoned channel experts did not think it safe to put a swimmer in the water.

English Channel (one-way – England to France)
Escort Pilot: Michael Oram, Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation
July 28, 2002 – 12 hrs 32 mins
A lifelong dream achieved at age 46.  I had met channel swimming legend Florence Chadwick at the La Jolla Rough Water Swim during my teens when my dream to swim the English Channel was born.

English Channel (two-way – England to France and back to England)
Escort Pilot: Lance Oram, Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation
July 29-30, 2004 – 28 hrs 36 mins
I became the oldest person at 48, male or female, to successfully complete a two-way English Channel swim.  (My age record stood until August of 2011 when it was broken by Liz Fry, who completed the swim at the age of 52.)  I was the first person to swim a two-way on the spring tides and had the northernmost landing of any two-way swim (Kingsdown).  I am the only member of the “Force 5 Club” to have earned membership on a two-way swim.  A cold front blew through on the first leg of my swim, and I swam in winds up to 24 knots.  For this swim, I received the CS&PF Award for the Most Meritorious Swim by a Woman in 2004, sponsored by the IMSHOF.

English Channel (one-way – England to France)
Escort Pilot: Lance Oram, Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation
July 29, 2007 – 11 hours 33 mins
This was a night swim, as I started out from Abbot’s Cliff at 11:00pm.  The winds and tides were strong – I was blown southwest of the Cap and landed at Audresselles.

Pacific Swims 10k Race – Fiji
October 19, 2008 – 2 hrs 41 mins
3rd Female Finisher Overall (1st place was Melissa Gorman, who had just returned from representing Australia in the Bejing Olympics in the 800 free and 10k swim.)

I have swum in several open water relays, including a two-way Catalina Channel relay in August 2000, a one-way Catalina Channel relay in September 2003, a cold-water (52F) relay swim in the Haro Straits in Canada, and relay swims with the La Jolla Cove Swim Club from Point Loma in San Diego to the Coronado Islands and another relay from La Jolla Cove to the Point Loma lighthouse.

In 2010, I was recognized for my swims, as well as coaching, mentoring and supporting other open water swimmers, inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, one of the highest honors bestowed upon open water swimmers.

In addition to swimming, supporting other swimmers has become an important part of my role in this sport.  I have served as Official Observer on CS&PF English Channel and Catalina Channel swims.  Mentoring and coaching channel swimming aspirants become a rewarding way to “give back” to the sport which has given me so much and continues to enrich my life in so many ways.