Throughout her life, super swimmer Lynne Cox has been making waves; she has swum the Nile, around the Cape of Good Hope, and more than a mile in Antarctic waters. She was also the first person to swim the Bering Strait. This accomplishment earned her praise from both U.S. President Reagan and Soviet leader Gorbachev.Lynne has swum nearly 55,000 miles (that’s two trips around the world!) in dangerous, open water. So, when she saw a video of a rescue dog fearlessly leaping from a helicopter, she was mesmerized. On today’s show, Lynne shares how she recognized a kindred spirit in that daredevil dog, and how she joined the Italian School of Water Rescue Dogs.What does it take for a chocolate Newfoundland named Al to become an expert water rescue dog? A lot of heart, a couple of dog treats, and one furry hero.Cover art image provided by: Steven GronfenbrennerEpisode LinksItalian School of Water Rescue Dogs (SICS): http://www.academyofwaterrescue.org/About Lynne CoxLynne Cox is an American long-distance open-water swimmer, motivational speaker, and author. Over the course of more than 35 years, Lynne accomplished swims setting world records and opening borders, contributed to medical research, supported environmental causes, and inspired people to overcome great obstacles. She is best known for her swim across the Bering Strait from the United States to the Soviet Union 7 August 1987. She twice held the overall record for the fastest crossing of the English Channel from England to France and has completed over 60 challenging swims around the world, holding over 50 world records.Lynne Cox: https://www.lynnecox.com/Books Written by Lynne CoxSwimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance SwimmerTales of Al: The Water Rescue DogSwimming in the Sink: A MemoirAbout Dog Podcast Network (DPN)DPN is the first of its kind. A podcasting network as devoted to dogs, as they are to us. Our mission is simple: entertain, inspire and inform. We will improve the quality of life for dogs and the people who love them.Check out Dog Podcast Network for other dog-adjacent shows:Dog Edition: our flagship show where a global team of dog-obsessed journalists and storytellers feature news, in-depth reporting, analysis, features, and interview segmentsDog Cancer Answers which offers vetted advice from real veterinarians who answer your questions about dog cancerFollow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices