1-Mile Swim 2025 Open Recap

The 1-Mile Swim 2025 Open, held July 17-23 exclusively for donors and recipients, featured world-class times and fierce competition, once again proving that donating a kidney or receiving a transplant does not slow down athletic performance. Check out the 2025 Season Leaderboard, now updated to include 1-Mile Swim points.

Donor: Women

Speed was the name of the game in the women’s donor category, which featured standout performances from two former elite collegiate swimmers and an Olympic gold medalist. Hayley Martin, who swam at the University of Nebraska, took first place with a blazing time of 19:45, besting the previous Donor Games record by over a minute (and only 2:38 off of the U.S. Masters record in the 1650 yard). Second place went to former University of Texas diver Sofia Rauzi, who posted a remarkable time of 21:31 in her first-ever Open event. Donor Games regular Courtney Cox reminded everyone why she’s a perennial podium threat, delivering a stellar 23:30 to clinch third place. Two-time Olympian Crissy Perham brought her championship pedigree to the pool. A gold medalist in both the 4×100 free relay and medley relay at the 1992 Barcelona Games, Pelham delivered an impressive time of 25:09 to capture fourth place. Jacqueline Rutherford rounded out the podium with a strong time of 27:21.

Donor: Men

The competition ran hot in the men’s donor category, where every second counted and the podium was anything but predictable. Eric Walano kicked off the competition strong, grabbing the early lead with a time of 25:22. Defending 1-Mile Swim champion David Bodger set out to stay on top, reclaiming the lead with a commanding 25:15. Eric tried to take back the lead but fell just one second short on his second attempt, coming in at 25:16. Undeterred, Eric used his third and final attempt the next day to overtake David with a searing 24:50 time. Formidable Donor Games athlete Brandon Cullen added to the drama with a strong performance, securing third place with a time of 26:24. On the final day, with Eric out of attempts and no sign of a new submission from David, Brandon made one last push, shaving over a minute off his time—enough to capture second place with 25:05. Paul Savuto took fourth place with 25:47, and on the final day of the competition, Garet Hil took fifth with 28:09,beating his previous attempt by over two minutes.

Recipient: Women

Abigail Beckman-Green, who plans to swim at the World Transplant Games in Dresden, Germany this August, took the top spot for the second straight year with a blazing time of 21:13. Sydney McGuire took second place with an impressive time of 27:59. Danielle Fiorito, who won the category in the last two Donor Games Open events, landed in third place with 56:01. Danielle is currently on dialysis and waiting for a transplant. Read her story.

Recipient: Men

Liver recipient Leo Draham cruised to first place for the second straight year in the 1-Mile Swim Open with an impressive time of 24:59. Scott Claybrook and Andrés Falco had a tight race for second place, with Scott’s 32:50 time edging out Andrés by just 19 seconds.

Congratulations to all the athletes!

Final Competition Leaderboard

Living Donor: Men
Rank	Participant	Age	State	Time	Video
1	Eric Walano	32	NJ	24:50
2	Brandon Cullen	26	NY	25:05
3	David Bodger	57	NZ	25:15
4	Paul Savuto	67	MA	25:47
5	Garet Hil	62	CT	28:09
6	David Leckrone	61	VA	28:36
7	Zachary Sutton	45	SC	37:43
8	Douglas Shaw	31	MD	40:40
9	Adam Cozzette	35	CA	44:29
10	Mike Ramsey	52	WI	1:00:50
	Cornelius Bornman	48	MI	DNC
	James Buckley	34	RI	DNC
	Blair Casey	29	TX	DNC
	Mark Dixon	42	UK	DNC
	Anonymous Donor	45	ME	DNC
	Shane Gregoire	31	NJ	DNC
	Steve Holmes	53	PA	DNC
	Adam Hull	44	MD	DNC
	Justin King	47	AL	DQ
	Claus Krukenberg	37	PA	DNC
	Mark Murray	36	PA	DNC
	Joseph Schrage	37	CA	DNC
	Chris Sullivan	56	CO	DNC
	Benjamin Thompson	35	MA	DNC

Living Donor: Women
Rank	Participant	Age	State	Time	Video
1	Hayley Martin	34	TX	19:45
2	Sofia Rauzi	28	TX	21:31
3	Courtney Cox	41	MO	23:30
4	Crissy Perham	55	NM	25:09
5	Jacqueline Rutherford	38	OR	27:21
6	Elaine Vigneault	49	NV	27:49
7	Victoria Threadgould	42	CO	28:25
8	Britta Kolodziej	39	MN	28:48
9	Nicole Cheslock	51	CA	30:05
10	Emmy Spencer Probasco	45	MD	30:39
11	Rowan Bienes-Allen	27	NJ	30:46
12	Mimi Mahon	37	OH	31:04
13	Radley West	53	SC	33:08
14	Janet Walker	41	NY	36:40
15	Bethany Krom	67	AZ	37:29
16	Cheryl Miemczewski	46	VA	37:37
17	Connie Rodgers	63	CAN	40:32
18	Julia Anne McCracken	66	NJ	41:54
19	Andrea Alejandro	45	TX	42:52
20	Kara Cain	34	NC	1:00:41
	Nicole Birkett-Brunkhorst	40	MO	DNC
	Molly Cropp	44	CO	DNC
	Clementé Love	41	TX	DNC
	Sydnie McClendon	30	MT	DNC
	Emily Polet-Monterosso	38	MI	DNC

Transplant Recipient: Men
Rank	Participant	Age	State	Time	Video
1	Leo Draham	36	PA	24:59
2	Scott Claybrook	43	AL	32:50
3	Andrés Falco	34	SPAIN	33:09
	Joe Curry	26	NY	DNC
	Wilson Du	43	CA	DNC
	Codiee Lofquist	39	MI	DQ

Transplant Recipient: Women
Rank	Participant	Age	State	Time	Video
1	Abigail Beckman-Green	36	IN	21:13
2	Sydney McGuire	25	OK	27:59
3	Danielle Fiorito	27	NC	56:01
	Samantha Hil	29	CT	DNC
	Merrill Walker	69	CO	DNC