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Wednesday, September 17, 2003

Two Lakota men from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota braved the frigid waters of San Francisco Bay to swim to Alcatraz.

Richard Ironcloud, 47, and Armando Blackbear, 22, spent one week training with a local doctor for Monday's swim. Ironcloud, who had never swam for long periods of time before, finished the 1.2-mile journey in 1 hour, 35 minutes while Blackbear took 1 hour, 55 minutes.

Dr. Nancy Iverson organized the swim through her nonprofit organization, PATHSTAR (Preservation of Authentic Traditions and Healing), to promote healthy living. She wants to bring others from the reservation to train for the Alcatraz swim.

Get the Story:
A heroic swim from Alcatraz by 2 Sioux (The San Francisco Chronicle 9/16)
2 South Dakota Sioux train for Alcatraz swim (The San Francisco Chronicle 9/16)

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