While he hasn’t found himself behind bars, he might just be able to relax for a moment.
In September, Michael Morrow, a 49-year-old from New York, successfully completed an impressive 45.5-mile loop, which started at Lower Manhattan, up the East River, through Harlem, and back down the Hudson River.
(Surprisingly) He accomplished this in less than 10 hours—all while handcuffed.
His remarkable achievement earned him two Guinness World Records: one for the longest open water swim while handcuffed and the other for being the first and fastest swimmer to navigate New York City’s waterways under those same constraints.
What’s the motivation?
“Why do you take on such challenges?” Capri Jatiasmoro, a fellow marathon swimmer, posed this question. She too faced similar challenges, swimming around Manhattan on her 63rd birthday back in 2014, and noted how the thrill of open water can feel both exhilarating and, in a way, illicit, much like Morrow’s handcuffs.
“The high from swimming is incredible,” Jatiasmoro said, suggesting it’s akin to the rush after a great workout or, um, more intimate experiences.
Yet, Morrow’s journey wasn’t just about swimming; it was part exploration, part unfinished business, and part a test of personal limits.
“I started hearing about people pushing themselves to the max and thought, ‘Why can’t I do this?’ It kicked off my journey to tap into my own potential,” he explained, emphasizing the importance of the water in that journey.
Born for the water
A land-based creative director, Morrow has always felt more at home in the water.
“My parents claim I could swim even before I learned to walk,” he recalled. “I basically communicated that I belonged in the water long before I could articulate it.”
Morrow was quite the swimmer in high school and college, even winning national championships and setting a record that still stands today. After taking a two-decade break from competitive swimming, he felt the call of the water again in his mid-40s. Influences like Diana Nyad sparked something within him, suggesting he still had more to give.
“The first thought that crossed my mind was… That’s crazy. Why would you do that?”
Michael Morrow
What was the challenge, exactly? He set ambitious goals that seemed impossible back in his youth, aiming for feats like ultramarathon swimming, which involves long distances of over 10 kilometers in open waters.
This is far more than just swimming laps in a pool—think of over 430 lengths of a standard pool, but with unpredictable currents and various natural elements to consider. He also had to coordinate boat traffic, read tides, and have a solid support crew. These demands call for mental and physical endurance that ordinary lap swimmers might not typically develop.
“I thought, ‘This is new territory for me. I had to pursue this,’” Morrow said, committing to his goal wholeheartedly.
He found a coach, hit pause on his social life, and focused on tackling the dangerous, choppy waters filled with marine life. He completed the grueling Molokai Strait Swim in Hawaii, known for its depth and difficulty, in 2024, finishing the course in 13 hours and 11 minutes—a commendable time.
Later, perhaps inspired by those handcuffs and the challenge they represented, Morrow contemplated pushing the limits further. Morrow had his sights set on breaking a record held by Egypt’s Shehab Alam, who swam a distance of 11.6 kilometers.
“Why would you do that?” That was his initial reaction as he grappled with the water’s equation: how can you swim effectively when your hands are restrained? Morrow soon viewed it as a technical challenge.
He realized that the key was to maximize his breaststroke kick. The best place to do this? The bustling city of New York.
After breaking Alam’s record, he once again sought to do something unprecedented: swim around the city while handcuffed. “If I pull this off, it’ll mark a milestone in my open water career,” he thought.
Going against the current
Like many in niche sports, open water swimmers often chase peculiar challenges. In New York, enthusiasts participate in events like the Urban Swim, where they swim around landmarks like the Statue of Liberty.
Some athletes tackle multiple swims, such as the 20-Bridge Swim around Manhattan, a challenging course that left some spectators pondering the swimmers’ sanity. And then there are the outliers enduring stunts like swimming backwards around Manhattan.
Despite some concerns, Jatiasmoro helped organize various swimming events along the coast, only ever having one noteworthy encounter with wildlife during her journeys. Even so, when Morrow first suggested swimming while shackled, she expressed skepticism over how the crew could effectively assist him if things went awry.
Swimming long distances with handcuffs posed a unique challenge, as hands are vital for support—emphasizing reliance solely on the legs and lower body. Alam, a former record-holding swimmer, recognized this effort and expects someone to someday break Morrow’s record.
Determined and focused
Morrow wasn’t deterred. He sought out a 24-hour pool to train, pushing himself through tough conditions off Coney Island, often fueled by hidden nutritional supplies.
At one point, he was swimming roughly 65,000 yards a week—that’s about 37 miles—while juggling his demanding job. “I trained with a silicone ring on my arm. People thought I was doing some peculiar exercises. There was a lot of self-doubt during this process,” he mentioned.
As he honed his skills, Morrow strengthened both his body and mind, learning to cope with fears surrounding potential dangers, from boats to aquatic creatures.
“You learn to shift your focus to swimming and managing what you can,’” he emphasized, as race day approached.
On September 9, Morrow entered the water accompanied by his crew, which included his sister, a kayak support, and even a Guinness World Records judge.
“I felt euphoric,” he recalled, especially upon reaching Hell’s Gate. But his initial joy faded as he faced difficult waters, where currents posed serious threats.
Swimming down the Hudson, what was considered the “home stretch,” suddenly became perilous, and Morrow had to navigate unexpected challenges.
A race against time
As he got closer to Brookfield Place, his support crew excitedly informed him about a potential chance to finish under 10 hours—an impressive feat given the normal finish times.
“Alright, let’s make a push,” he thought, and with sheer determination, he sprinted to finish in 9 hours and 41 minutes.
“It all came together—my aspirations, the uncertainty, the moments of doubt. Everyone told me it was impossible, yet here I was,” he reflected.
Looking back, Morrow earned two more Guinness World Record plaques to his name, but also dealt with a painful yet manageable infection. “This proves that there are no limits to our dreams,” he stated. “We should always strive to achieve them.”
As for what’s next? “Well, it might be a little early for that,” he confessed.
