Orlando Fernández

Orlando Fernández
Personal information
Full name Orlando Fernández De La Crúz
Nickname(s) Puerto Rican Aquaman
Nationality  Puerto Rico
Born 1971 (age 44–45)
Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Sport
Sport Swimming

Orlando Fernández, a.k.a. "The Puerto Rican Aquaman" (born 1971), is the first Puerto Rican swimmer to cross the Strait of Gibraltar.

Early years

Fernández (birth name: Orlando Fernández De La Crúz[note 1]) was born in Santurce, a section of San Juan, the capital city of Puerto Rico. There he received his primary and secondary education. Fernández learned to swim when he was four years old at the swimming pools of El Escambron and Sheraton hotels in San Juan. He learned to surf by the age of ten. In 1991, he earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from the Universidad Metropolitana (Metropolitan University) or "UMET" as it is commonly known by its initials.[1][2]

Strait of Gibraltar

The Strait of Gibraltar as seen from space.
(North is to the left: The Iberian Peninsula is on the left and North Africa on the right).

The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow body of water that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Gibraltar and Spain in Europe from Morocco in Africa.[3] Europe and Africa are separated by 7.7 nautical miles (14.3 km; 8.9 mi) of ocean at the strait's narrowest point. The Strait's depth ranges between 300 and 900 meters (160 and 490 fathoms; 980 and 2,950 ft)[4] which possibly interacted with the lower mean sea level of the last major glaciation 20,000 years ago[5] when the level of the sea is believed to have been lower than the present level by 110–120 m (60–66 fathoms; 360–390 ft).[6]

Swim across the Strait

Fernández was inspired and motivated to represent his country in international swimming events by his long-distance swimming coach Marcos Díaz, a native of the Dominican Republic. Fernández holds various records in long distance swimming, among them the long swimming records of 20 kilometers at Key West, Florida, and 25 kilometers in Indiana. When he decided to attempt the crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar, he requested and received the help and training of Pedro Díaz. Díaz coached Fernández on the physical training required before and after the crossing of the strait.[1][2]

On May 19, 2011, Fernández departed from Cadiz, Spain, and swam the Strait for three hours and 57 minutes covering a distance of 18 kilometers in 65° Fahrenheit waters. He reached Point Cires, Morocco, accomplishing his lifelong dream and becoming the first Puerto Rican ever to do so.[7][8]

Recognition

On September 4, 2011, the city of Ponce in Puerto Rico dedicated its 30th annual Bahía de Ponce[9] international swimming competition, Cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahía de Ponce, to Fernández in recognition of his accomplishments. The dedication took place at the Parque Enrique González (also known as the Malecón) in Playa de Ponce.[1][2]

Fernández currently resides in Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Among other sports he practices are kayaking (of which he also an instructor), spinning, paddleboarding and surfing. He also serves as a motivational speaker at public schools and private enterprises. Fernandez plans on swimming from Vieques to Palmas del Mar in Humacao, in a benefit drive to help the Children with Cancer Foundation.[1][2]

Notes

  1. ↑ This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Fernández  and the second or maternal family name is ' De La Crúz .

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Inspirador el "Aquaman" Metro International. 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "El Aquaman Boricua"
  3. ↑ 1911 Classical Encyclopedia.
  4. ↑ See Robinson, Allan Richard and Paola Malanotte-Rizzoli, Ocean Processes in Climate Dynamics: Global and Mediterranean Examples. Springer, 1994, p. 307, ISBN 0-7923-2624-5.
  5. ↑ Würm glaciation
  6. ↑ Cosquer cave
  7. ↑ Cruce a Nado en la Playa de Ponce este Septiembre Primera Hora. San Juan, Puerto Rico. 19 August 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  8. ↑ Aquaman Boricua Cumple su Sueño Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  9. ↑ Special Local Regulation, Cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahia de Ponce Puerto Rico, Bahia de Ponce; Ponce, PR. Federal Register: The Daily Journal of the United States Government. A Proposed Rule by the Coast Guard. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
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