Morgan Filler
Open Water Swimming
Height: 5'6"
Date of Birth: 08/10/1975
Hometown: Gaithersburg, Maryland
Resides: Berkeley, California
Morgan Filler is poised for Olympic greatness in long distance open water swimming. She has won numerous international races lasting up to 11 hours and has maintained top rankings in the 2 mile races.
When it comes to battling the natural elements Filler is unstoppable. It’s this determination that has her situated 3rd in the woman’s World Cup rankings and has earned her a much sought after place on the US National Open Water Team.
Filler’s passion for swimming began in high school when, with her father and twin brother, Morgan swam the annual 4.4 mile race across Chesapeake Bay. Every year would bring different challenges (high waves and 4 knot currents that swept over 400 swimmers off course); yet Morgan always finished. Morgan and her brother finished hand in hand one year, as Morgan again placed in the top four women.
Morgan expanded her athletic challenges at Colby College in Maine. She raced on top of the water in crew as well as in the pool. Her college career was highlighted by being Co-captain, setting pool records and making Divison III Nationals in five events as well as racing in the premier crew competition, the Head of the Charles in Boston.
After graduation, she spent four years on an international pro-circuit and World Cup Series for Open Water Marathon Swimming, training full time with the top distance team, the Mission Viejo Natadores in southern California. She competed in Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Macedonia, Slovenjia and Egypt. This circuit of races was in lakes, rivers and oceans and ranged from 10km(two hours) to 88km(ten hours). Battling waves, hyperthermia, dehydration, sea life, boats, extreme heat, wind, and/or nausea, she focused and won a 25km World Cup race in Fukuoka, Japan and a 28.2 Mile swim around Manhattan Island, NYC, and quickly rose to the top five woman for each international race. During this time, she was a member of the US National Open water team, and was named to the Hall of Fame for Marathon Swimming.
Currently, Filler lives and trains in Berkeley. She has been reunited with long time coach Penny Dean. Like her coach, Filler earned international recognition from The FINA World Cup Series and the US National Open Water Swim Team.
She is one of the few who combine pool training along with balancing the body with the mind (yoga, meditation, chiropractic care and massage therapy). The mind is stronger than the body and in endurance events, the mind must be controlled and the body follows rhythmically and intuitively. “The highest potential is in unifying mind, body, and spirit”, reminds Filler.
Unique Facts:
- First American Woman in World Cup Series Rankings 1999-2001
- Third World ranked woman for FINA World Cup Series, 2001
- Completed every started race in North and South America, Asia, Africa and Europe
- Raced over 1435km or 889miles in lakes, rivers and oceans
- Swam around 2 islands, Manhattan Island, NYC and Atlantic City, NJ
- First individual finisher in 28.5mile swim around Manhattan island, NYC
- Swam with German National team from Denmark to Germany, 2000
- Won 25km World Cup race in Fukuoka, Japan, 1999
- US Open Water National Team Member, 1998
- Trained with top long distance team, Mission Viejo Natadores, CA 1997-99
- Reunited for long distance coaching with legendary open water swimmer and coach, Penny Dean, 2007
Other Sport Achievements
- Third woman in Alcatraz Challenge 1.5mileswim/7milerun, 2006
- Backpacking trek in Torres del Pines, Chile(Patagonia), 2004
- SF Marathon finisher, 2005
- Surfing Costa Rica, 2005 and Northern California, present
- Head of the Charles rowing competitor, 1998