James
Pittar, born 5th October 1969, began swimming at an early age. Like most Australians, he was like a duck taking
to water. Sports meant a great deal to James; in fact, it was in his blood. And his
hard work paid off handsomely.
James has represented Australia in swimming during:
- 1994 at the Far East and Southern Pacific championships in
China;
- 1991 at the National Championships in Thailand;
- 1990 at the World Championships in the
Netherlands.
An impressive record for any
athlete; but, especially so for this one.
James Pittar is blind.
In the spring of 1985, James was diagnosed with Retinitius Pigmentosa, a rare disease
of the retina, which over the next two years, stripped him of his sight. He has been
legally blind since the age of 16.
Instead of retreating, losing his sight made James literally go further. He refocused
his efforts and has, subsequently, made stunning achievements in long-distance swimming.
Queens Baton Relay
The Queens
Baton Relay was part of the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games which
were held in March, 2006, and is the equivalent of the Olympic Torch
Relay. The Queens Baton Relay was run all around Australia and also
throughout the other 71 nations involved in the Commonwealth Games.
Its last journey was to the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth
Games at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. A message was inside the
Baton from the Queen which she read at the Opening Ceremony.
James was a Queens Baton Relay runner 26 January 2006, from the
amphitheatre on the Corso at Manly down to the Manly Wharf, about a
distance of 600 metres. |
2007
· IE -
Cleggan Pier to Inishbofin, Ireland, 12.8km, 18 August
2007
· US -
The Pennock Island Challenge, Ketchikan, Alaska, 13.2km, 12
August 2007
· US -
Capitola Pier to Santa Cruz Pier,
CA, 10km, 4 August 2007
· AU - Sydney Football Stadium Pool, 12.5km, 2 June 2007
Charity Report to
Sponsor, Alfred Dunhill Limited
2006
· US -
Catalina Channel, Los Angeles,
CA, 33km (2nd Australian/2nd blind swimmer to cross)
· TH - Mai Khao Beach to Patong Beach,
Phuket, Thailand, 21km (first blind swimmer)
2005
· TR - ANZAC Cove, Turkey, 11km Solo
Swim
(first blind swimmer)
· SA - Vaal River, South Africa, 25km Solo Swim
(first blind swimmer)
2004
· AG - Parana River, Argentina, 60km
Solo Swim (first blind swimmer)
· NZ - Cook Strait, South to North Island, New Zealand, 16
nautical miles (first blind swimmer)
2003
· AU - Perth to Rottnest Island, 22kms
· MC - Bordighera Italy to Monaco, 21kms (first blind swimmer)
· US - Chesapeake
Bay, 7km (first blind swimmer)
· US - San Francisco – Alcatraz return. (first blind swimmer)
2002
· AU - Perth to Rottnest Island, 22kms
· ES - Spain to Morocco, Straits of Gibraltar
Swim, 21kms (first blind swimmer)
2001
· AU - Palm Beach to North Steyne
Beach, 26kms (first blind swimmer in aid of the Rainbow Club)
· AU - Perth to Rottnest Island, 22kms
2000
· US - Martha's Vineyard to Nantucket
Island, 26kms (One of the first two people
to ever complete this swim and the first blind swimmer)
· AU - Perth to Rottnest Island, 22kms
· AU - Manly Wharf to Darling Harbor, 15kms (in aid of paralympics)
1999
· AU - Perth to Rottnest Island, 22kms
· US - Manhattan Island Marathon,
45kms (first blind swimmer)
· AU - Manly to Queenscliff Beach Swim, 23 laps. 37kms (Current record holder)
(The English Channel, Perth to Rottnest Island and Manhattan swims were all completed
within a 12-month period)
1998
· AU - Perth to Rottnest Island, 22kms (first blind crossing)
· GB - England to France English Channel, 35kms (first blind crossing) |
In recognition of
his achievements, James has been an
Australia Day Ambassador since
1999. James was named Kuring-gai Citizen of the Year in 2000 and has been a
Rainbow
Club Ambassador since 2001.
James also won the Sir Roden Cutler Award for the most distinguished
sporting achievement of the year for a disabled person, as well as the Natortorial
Award from the Union of Old Swimmers, both in 1998.
And if all of the above is not enough for one athlete, it should also be noted that
James was a member of the Australian disabled Rowing Team in 1995 at the World Rowing
Championships in Finland.
If James' record of accomplishments proves one thing, it's this .
. . Some people can only see their goals. Others go out and achieve them.
Click
Below to View James'
World Map of Swims
 |
