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Dentist Sets Sights Deep Chelsea Patten, Staff Writer, Dentaltown Magazine

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John Chung has practiced dentistry for 11 years. In the office, he's dedicated to caring for patients and determined to provide quality dentistry. Out of the office, he shows his dedication and determination in other ways.

Chung and five other male swimmers – Mike Shaffer, Jim McConica, Kurt Baron, Tom Ball and Jim Neitz – together sought to tackle a world record, an ocean relay swim, covering 202 miles of territory.

With the goal to break the current world record of 78.2 miles for open water relay, the team began at 6:03 a.m. on September 16. Each of the six participants swam a one-hour interval before tagging off to the next person.
The team swam 24 hours a day. In order to break the record, the team had to keep the same order of swimmers throughout the relay, and could wear only approved gear, which included a FINA-approved swim suit (no wetsuits), goggles, a swim cap, and ear/nose plugs – not a small feat in the unseasonably cold waters of the Pacific Ocean.

The official swim started at the Ventura Harbor and proceeded northwest to Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara. Chung made the 180-degree turn just past the Wharf and headed back toward the South; all eyes were on La Jolla Cove in San Diego, California – their final destination.

After nearly 42 hours of swimming, the team broke the world record. They paused briefly to celebrate but Neitz, swimmer at the time of the record-break, continued on, saying "I've got work to do." Seventeen additional hours landed them on the shores of La Jolla Cove at 11:45 a.m. on September 20, tired, but with a sense of accomplishment and a world-record to boot.

Thousands of hours of training go into preparing for such an achievement. Training involves not only endurance, but also learning to be a strong ocean swimmer since the elements are completely different than when swimming in a pool. Chung compares his swimming venture to his practice. He says, "I had to be disciplined but able to adapt my approach depending on the conditions, just like in my practice, each patient is different." John and the team have been nominated for Open Water Swimming performances of the Year. This is an international category from performance throughout 2010. Voting is done online through December 31 with winners announced January 1. The Web site to vote is http://www.openwatersource.com.

John Chung graduated in 1998 from Marquette University – School of Dentistry. He practices dentistry in Ventura, California and he swims in his free time, and now… he holds a world record! Congratulations to Dr. Chung and his five other "Ventura Deep Six" teammates. Chung is proof that dedication and determination pay off both in and out of the office.
Dentaltown Magazine
September 2025
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