On June 27, 2023, Beavercreek High School incoming senior Chloe Otten completed the Strait of Messina Swim, a two-mile swim across the Mediterranean Sea from Punta Faro in Sicily to Cannitello, Calabria in Italy.
The Strait of Messina is an international event hosted by Water World Swim and piloted by Giovanni Fiannacca. Water World Swim, founded in 1990, aims to help swimmers transition from swimming in a pool to swimming in the open water.
To participate in this swim, swimmers must go through an application process. The application is open to swimmers 14 years and older; only 30 are chosen to participate in the event worldwide.
Of this year's swimmers, Chloe was the first to finish with a time of 38 minutes. It is a true accomplishment to complete the swim and a proud moment for her to finish first out of all the event swimmers. The record for finishing this swim is held by Fiannacca, who completed this swim at 30:50 in 1975.
Chloe is a member of the Beavercreek High School Varsity Swim Team and the Cincinnati Marlins Swim Team. Chloe and two Marlin teammates, Sydney Herr, and Natalie Gockerman, swam the Messina Strait to help raise funds for Pediatric Cancer. The girls set a goal to raise $50,000 as part of the Swim Across America, Make Waves to Fight Cancer campaign.
At Beavercreek City Schools, we strive to inspire, lead, and empower our students to succeed in and out of the classroom. This success is a highlight for Chloe for Beavercreek City Schools.
We are proud of the hard work and dedication Chloe has put into accomplishing her goals. Swimming the Strait is a remarkable triumph that takes not only physical toughness but mental fortitude as well.
The district could not be more proud to call her a Beavercreek Beaver. Congratulations to Chloe, Sydney, Natalie, and the rest of the 2023 Strait of Messina swimmers!