The Samoa Swimming community is mourning the passing of a well known and loved member of the swimming community: Sid Salek, also known as "Super Sid".  

Mr. Salek, from Mt. Maunganui passed away at the age of 91. 

According to Seti Afoa, Mr Salek was 86 years old when he first travelled to Samoa to participate in the Samoa Swim series which he had attended for four years. 

He was known around the swimming circles as "Super Sid" and a legend and veteran of Open Water Swimming. 

"He loved Samoa and the many friends he made at the Samoa Swim Series," Mr. Afoa said in an emailed response to the Samoa Observer.

"Sid swam the [two kilometre] distances; his favourite course was Mulivai to Sinalei, and Le Lagoto to Jane's Bar at Manase."

"He was not able to to finish the 5 [kilometre] swim between Sauano and Falefa on his last trip to Samoa due to safety reasons. 

"On his last trip with us, Sid swam the Sauano to Falefa 5km swim, he didn't finish the swim because of safety reasons. He was picked up by the safety boat, a Police Inflatable behind the Falefa Reef.

"In the short time, he was transported to the beach at Mose's shop where the swim finished, he managed to persuade one of the officers to give him his Police issued cap for a souvenir. That hat sat pride of place on Sid's mantlepiece at his home in Mt Maunganui."

Mr Salek was a devout Jew and he was farewelled yesterday in Wellington in a Jewish ceremony. 

A Facebook post was made by the Samoa Swim Series expressing their sympathies and condolence to the grieving family of Mr Salek. The 

Mr. Salek still holds many age-group records for swim meets in the pool and ocean swimming.