Joey Nizzardo to vie for a 3rd straight win in the Swim Across the Sound

Joey Nizzardo, 22, of Monroe, will attempt to win the annual Hartford HealthCare/St. Vincent’s Swim Across the Sound for the third year in a row this Saturday, competing with nearly 200 swimmers in a 15.5-mile-trek in the salty waters of Long Island Sound.

Families battling cancer diagnoses and his grandfather, Michael Nizzardo’s own fight with multiple myeloma will be on his mind, as he strives to keep going.

“I think it’s just a great cause that allows for so much fundraising and allows so many people to have a great accomplishment under their belt — and just raise money for people in need,” Nizzardo said of The Swim during a telephone interview Wednesday. “It’s a wonderful event.”

Proceeds from The Swim supports programs and services as well as financial assistance to cancer patients for items that are not covered by insurance. Now in its 37th year, the event raises over $1 million annually.

Nizzardo, a member of Masuk High School’s Class of 2021, competed on the boys swim team and continued to swim at Fairfield University, before graduating this year.

“I swam in the 1500 meter, but my main event was the 1650 yard swim,” he said of college.

Nizzardo competed in 1650 Freestyle in the Conference Championship every year, placing as high as third in his sophomore and senior years. His love of swimming began when he was nine-years-old.

“My dad loved to swim,” Nizzardo recalled. “He taught me how to swim and I really loved it, so I asked to join a swim team.”

Nizzardo swam for the Shelton Rapids.

The first time he participated in The Swim Across the Sound was as a member of a relay team three years ago, but in the last two races he swam solo.

“When I was doing the relay, I really enjoyed swimming for a long period of time at once,” Nizzardo said. “I like open water swimming a lot and distance. I thought I could do it and wanted to raise money for people in need of cancer treatment.”

The Swim is from Whitehall Beach in Port Jefferson, N.Y., to Captain’s Cove Seaport in Bridgeport. Boats escort the swimmers for safety and are equipped with GPS, radios and cell phones. The event also employs medical boats, EMTs, lifeguards and underwater search and rescue teams.

Nizzardo’s father, Michael, served as a boat crew member every year. While swimming, Nizzardo said he sometimes looks at his father for inspiration to keep going.

“My dad attaches water bottles and capsules to a rope and throws them in, so every 40 minutes I drink water,” Nizzardo said. “He puts part of a banana in a capsule, and coconut water, I have that as well. I usually eat when I’m swimming on my back to keep going.”

To do The Swim solo, Nizzardo needs to have the stamina to be in the water for several hours.

“I think going at a good pace, not sprinting, definitely training and learning how to swim in open water for long amounts of time,” he said of the keys to finishing a race. “The water and food definitely helps with maintaining energy levels.”

Last year, Nizzardo had his personal best, finishing The Swim in 6 hours, 36 minutes, 56 seconds. “The current picked up in the last two miles, so it was a lot slower pace than earlier in the race,” he said, adding how weather and water conditions can be a big factor on race day.

Nizzardo will attempt to record another personal best Saturday. “I hope so,” he said. “There’s gonna be a person swimming who didn’t swim last year, who’s competitive, so it should push me.”

To train for The Swim, Nizzardo said, “I swim every day from May 1 to the actual swim and try to do open water. I usually swim at Sherwood Island in Westport.”

On some days, he also does work in a swimming pool.

“I try to do a minimum of 2.5 kilometers. Usually, I do 5 to 10 kilometers a day,” said Nizzardo, who plans to swim 2.5 kilometers on Friday as a final workout before the big event.

‘It’s a lot of training,” he said. “I almost feel underprepared, but I think I’ll be good.”

In addition to his father, Nizzardo said his mother, Sarah, will watch him swim on Saturday, along with other family members, including his grandfather, who’s cancer treatment is going well, according to Nizzardo, who said, “he’s happy and healthy.”

“A lot of my family came last year and will come this year, which is really exciting to finish to,” he said. “I think they’re proud. It’s very emotional. I’m very honored to be so supported. My grandfather has been there every time. It’s great to see him after the swim.”

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