Update: Father and Son Complete Golden Gate Swim

Danville resident Ken Harmon tried last month  to swim a double-length of Lake Tahoe. Although he was unsuccessful because of hazardous swimming conditions, he was eager to swim the waters under the Golden Gate Bridge with his 13-year-old son, Ben.

Both Harmons placed high in the Fifth Annual Roper Invitational Golden Gate Swim on Sept. 19, which had about 70 entrants.

Harmon took second-place overall with a time of 38:58. Ben, an eighth-grader at Charlotte Wood Middle School, placed fourth overall with a time of 42:01.

Harmon, 50, says he thinks it will be a couple of years before Ben beats his dad's time. Maybe.

"He stepped right up and was great. He looked great," said Harmon. "He blew away some seasoned veterans."

Harmon, who has been doing open-water swims without a wetsuit since 1987 and completed a one-length swim of Lake Tahoe in 2005 (see the chronology of his swims), said the Golden Gate swim is not for beginners.

It was Harmon's fourth time participating in the swim and Ben's first. 

The teen was 9 when he swam the 1.5 miles from Alcatraz to the shore in 46 minutes. Harmon said most adults complete the swim in 42 minutes to one hour.

Ben also plays for a 680 water-polo team. The teams include fourth- to eighth- grade girls and boys with home pools at Las Lomas, Dougherty Valley and San Ramon Valley high schools.

After Ben completed the Golden Gate Swim, his dad said, he played in two water-polo games later that day.

Harmon said he swam next to his son for the first two minutes, after which Ben made his own way. 

The swimmers weren't the only ones swimming beneath the shadows of the Golden Gate. Harmon said they were accompanied by porpoises and seals.

Footage from the Golden Gate swim and Harmon's Tahoe swim in August will be used in an open-water education film that is in the works.