I have been fortunate to work with business, organizations, and non-profits such as Amazon Outdoors, REI Co-Op’s Wild Ideas Worth Living, Seattle Times, King County Library, UnitedHealth Group, Northwest Maritime Center, Say Yes to Life Swims, Seattle Film Institute, Thinkspace, Boldly Went, and many more to promote and share the story of open water and ice swimming. In addition to events and public speaking engagements, below lists publications, articles, and other print and video features throughout my career.
Podcasts, Shorts & Feature Documentaries
- “Ice Swimmer Melissa Kegler on Body Positivity“, podcast episode by Explore Magazine on how open water and ice swimming changed my perspective on body image and the relationship with my own body. We discuss the importance of messaging and sharing story to help encourage and inspire people to look at the way they view their own body as a celebration of what the body can do versus what it cannot. Note: Podcast in German with translation available.
- “Marathon Swim Stories – Melissa Kegler“, article and podcast by Intrepid Water about my swim story, what makes it special, and unique to me. A part of the blog Marathon Swim Stories, where we explore the human side of super human feats of endurance swimmers and those who support them.
- “Ice Mermaid: Cold Resolve“, documentary produced by Dan McComb, Seattle Documentary Filmmaker and Seattle Film Institute faculty member, that follows my inspiring journey to achieving the U.S. national ice swimming distance record (2021), 2.2km in 39-40F water temperature without a wetsuit. The documentary explores body confidence, the importance of community, my relationship with water and the aquatic animals that call her home. Ice Mermaid: Cold Resolve will be available for streaming beginning December 1 on the Cascade PBS app, local station KCTS 9.
- “The Body You Have“, short film by Visual Journalist, Lauren Frohne, features my journey in long distance swims, achieving the U.S. national distance record for IISA’s Ice Mile event in 2022, and how my story fosters community and body positivity in the swimming world.
- “Open Water: Melissa Kegler“, short film that tells the story about my love affair with the sea. Filmed and produced by Dan McComb, Seattle Documentary Filmmaker and Seattle Film Institute faculty member, along with his absolutely wonderful students for taking the time to listen to my story (also on YouTube).
- Women in the Open Water 2 – Awakening the Dolphin Within, March 2019:A panel discussion on expanding your potential in the open water providing tips and techniques to achieve your dreams. Pre-event slideshow courtesy of Say Yes to Life Swims and blog post recapping the event featured on West Seattle Blog. Full video of the event coming soon!
- Grit + Resilience: Interview and and live talk hosted on August, 2018 by Thinkspace, to discuss open water swimming, balancing professional success with personal passion, and how my journey to the Triple Crown parallels the entrepreneurial spirit.
- Podcast West Seattle (PCWS) Episode 2, “The Notorious Alki Swimmers,” Published on SoundCloud, February 2018
- Boldy Went, June 2018, Connecting adventurers motivational speaking engagement about my pursuit of the Triple Crown of Open Water swimming and Catalina Channel swim recap
- Women in the Open Water, March 2017, YouTube playback of the first panel discussion featuring women marathon swimmers discussing their swims, preparation, highs and lows.
- “myClaims Manager“, an April 2015 short film by UnitedHealth Group features open water swimming and my journey to achieve the English Channel playing a critical part for the customer’s perspective for need and development of UnitedHealth Group’s myClaims manager.
Articles & Publications
- Pacific Northwest Association of Masters Swimmers (PNA), The WetSet, Volume 44, Issue 3, Swimmer Spotlight Extra – The Melissa Kegler Story, about growing up not even knowing about open water swimming, to the Triple Crown, ice swimming, kicking 18K around Coronado, and the undeniable connection I have between self and sea.
- GEO Magazine article, Body Positivity: The Inspiring Story of an Ice Swimmer, March 2024, detailing my belief in body positivity and how my body, my shape, and my size helped me to achieve the United States ice swimming distance record and overcoming stigmas of being overweight in the athletic community. (Note – This article is in German)
- Explore Magazine article, Ice swimmer Melissa Kegler – “The water accepts you as you are!” March 22, 2024, detailing my love for ocean and community as well as my body, not being a stereotypical in size or looks in the athletic community, helped me to achieve the United States ice swimming distance record. (Note – This article is in German)
- Official Selection, International Ocean Film Tour, Volume 10, Ice Mermaid: Cold Resolve, documentary produced by Dan McComb, Seattle Documentary Filmmaker and Seattle Film Institute faculty member, that follows my inspiring journey to achieving the U.S. national ice swimming distance record (2021), 2.2km in 39-40F water temperature without a wetsuit. The documentary premieres for the film tour March 7, 2024, in Hamburg, Germany.
- World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA) article, Kicking Through Challenges: Melissa Kegler’s Great Kick Around Coronado, January 2024, interview about my July 2023 shoulder surgery, facing adversity, ability to adjust and push forward, rediscovering the ocean and passion through kicking.
- Seattle Times article, Seattle open-water swimmer Melissa Kegler notches second Ice Mile swim, breaks record features the Seattle open-water community and how my swim friends turned family rallied to support my USA ice mile distance record attempt turned success!
- West Seattle Blog article, Melissa Kegler’s round trip between Bremerton and Alki, posted by the West Seattle Blog, always a great supporter of Alki swimming, on my 2021 Amy Hiland Double swim. A big thank you to West Seattle Blog for coming out to the beach for the big turn as well as Sunday for the Silver Seals relay finish. Always great to see you!
- Seattle Refined article, Splish Splash: Open water swimming is on the rise amid COVID-19, October 2020, features various Alki Beach swimmers and how they are using open water swimming to battle the effects of COVID-19.
- Lansing State Journal article, Melissa Kegler to Enter Hall After Completing Triple Crown, announced my Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019 induction for marathon swimming. The first person from Michigan to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, spike in front of a crowd of 600 about the sport of open water swimming and what it means to represent female athletes as well as my hometown of Holt, MI.
- World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA) article, One More Swim, One More Wave For Melissa Kegler, July 2018, covers my purpose and charitable organization, One More Wave, for completion of the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming.
- World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA) article, The Daily News of Open Water Swimming, The Notorious Alki Swimmers Share Their Love of the Water, September 2017, interview and quotations about the West Seattle based swim group, the Notorious Alki Swimmers.
- The Tartan – 2017 Tartan Spring, Spring 2017, Alma College’s 2017 Spring Featured Alumna, Pages 16-17 of the archived 2017 Tartan Spring edition.
Awards & Designations
- U.S. Distance Record for Ice Swimming, 2.25km in 39F water temperature, achieved January 2022
- Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming designation, June 2018
- Team VO2 Multisport Inspirational Person (VIP) of the year award for the 2017 triathlon and swim season
In the Blue 