John Van Wisse
John Van Wisse (born December 6) is an Australian marathon swimmer and triathlete. He has completed four Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, winning three (in 2000 in 7 hours 53 minutes, in 2008 in 7 hours 30 minutes, and in 2009 in 7 hours 10 minutes) and finishing second once (in 2011 in 7 hours 33 minutes). He also completed a two-way crossing of the English Channel under the auspices of the Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation on 8 August 2010 in 19 hours 55 minutes, the 11.2 km Bloody Big Swim in 2010 in 2 hours 18 minutes, and the English Channel under the auspices of the Channel Swimming Association on 20 July 1994 in 8 hours 17 minutes.
Swimming & Lifesaving
- Australian Record - Portarlington to Frankston Marathon Swim, 40km, 1993
- Winner of Manhattan Island Marathon Swim 48km 2000, 2008, 2009
- Australian Record - Fastest Australian to swim the English Channel, 1994
- World Record - First ever brother & sister team to swim the English Channel, 1994
- Victorian Lifesaver of the Year 1997
- Winner of Brighton Baths 5 km swim, 1995, 96, 97, 99, 2000, 01, 02
- Winner of Brighton Baths Health Club Winter Swimming Carnival in the Brighton Sea Baths, victory in the mile race for 18 consecutive years
- Winner of Victorian State 8 km Championships 1995 & 1996
- Winner of San Remo Channel Challenge, Phillip Island, 1992, 93, 95 & 97
- Royal Lifesaving State Champion Ironman/swim wade/belt race 1995, 96, 97, 98, 99 2000, 2001
- Winner Dover to Folkstone 16km swim race (England) 1994
Triathlon and Running
- Winner of New Zealand Half Ironman Championships 2001
- Winner of Victorian State Championships, Olympic Distance 2001
- Fourth place New Zealand Ironman 2001
- First Australian home 8hrs 32mins
- Winner of 20-24 age group Melbourne Marathon run, 1996
- place Shepparton Half Ironman triathlon, 1998, 4hrs 8 mins.
- Top 20 finisher (pro section) -
- European Ironman Championships, Roth, Germany (9hrs 12 mins)
- Australian Ironman Championships, Forster 2000
- Ironman USA, Lake Placid, New York 2000
- Hawaii Ironman finisher, 1999 (10 hours 38 minutes)
- Winner of the swim leg -
- Australian Ironman Championships, Forster 1999, 2000 & 2001
- European Ironman Championships, Roth, Germany 1999
- Hawaii Ironman, USA 1999
- Ironman USA, Lake Placid 2000 (new course record)
Coaching
John has coached six out of six swimmers successfully across the English channel, a feat which, historically, has only a 7% success rate. He has coached numerous national and state podium finishers at Masters pool swimming (19 medals in total), as well as Elite Juniors competing for state titles, filling in as head coach for eight weeks at Southern Bay Swim Club (now Klim Trojans). He also coached a successful double crossing (two way) English Channel relay swim, and has numerous successful IronMan & Sprint triathletes in his squads.
Under his coaching, Yvonne Mooyman swam 25km across the treacherous Cook Strait between New Zealand's North & South Islands in 2002. This year, in August, Yvonne is attempting the English Channel.
In 2001, John coached Paul Percy across the Straits of Gibraltar, and, in 2003, down the length of the Wakai Kai River in New Zealand.
He has helped his sister, Tammy van Wisse, prepare for all her swims, including the 2046km Murray River journey; the 97km Bass Strait crossing (King Island to Apollo Bay); the length of Port Phillip Bay (Rosebud to South Melbourne); the 166km circumference of Port Phillip Bay; the 38km crossing of Loch Ness (Scotland); and the 48km Manhattan Island Swim Race (New York) outright victory in 1997.
John has two new swimmers attempting to cross the English Channel in 2006. They are Terry McMaster and Terry O'Brien.
Education
Heatherhill High School
