He's not one to sing his own praises, but with the record he's amassed in the Rock to Rock Ocean Swim, we're happy to sing them for him.
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Ethan Whiteman has claimed seven wins now in the annual Easter swim at Elizabeth Beach, including the last four in a row.
This year he beat his nearest competitor by more than 45 seconds, stamping his authority on a race he won for the first time when he was 25.
Now 33 and living in Newcastle, the dedicated lifesaver who grew up in Tuncurry said that first win was memorable for a number of reasons.
Firstly, despite his success in other ocean swims and a number of close finishes at Elizabeth Beach, it was a title that had remained frustratingly elusive for him.
Secondly, he was able to dedicate the win to former champ and rival, Saxon Bird, who died a few weeks earlier at the Australian Surf Life Saving Titles on the Gold Coast.
It's pretty satisfying. It's a lot of years in the making.
- Ethan Whiteman
A multiple State and Australian medalist in surf lifesaving, Ethan said the Rock to Rock remained a special event for him because it brought him home with his family over Easter.
It also stood out as a race in its own right.
"It's a pretty challenging race," he said.
"It throws up different conditions each year.
"And it's just such a beautiful place. It's second to none."
Having started in nippers at Forster Surf Club as a four-year-old, Ethan admitted he was more or less born into the sport, with generations of his family having been involved in the surf lifesaving movement before him.
Now with two kids of his own, it's a tradition he's passing on, with his oldest girl in nippers and already showing signs of being a strong swimmer herself.
"What I love about surf swimming is it's just you against the elements," he said.
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He admitted there would come a time when he'd no longer be able to maintain his dominance in the Rock to Rock, but that doesn't mean he won't keep attending, with plans to come back every year and continue encouraging fellow swimmers from Newcastle to do the same.
And while his winning days may be numbered, he believes there's a still few in him yet.
"Ten would be nice," he said.
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