Sworn Witness Statements · Case: Doe v. Mineo et al.
Licensed Investigator Witness Reports
Three witness statements taken in May and June 2021 by E. Hernández, a California licensed investigator (Lic. No. 23896), in the matter Doe v. Mineo et al.
Sworn Witness Statement
Gabriella Alderete
Date of Interview: May 31, 2021
Report Date: June 3, 2021
Investigator: E. Hernández · California Lic. No. 23896
Subject: Experience with Bryan Mineo and One With the Ocean (OWO) in San Diego
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Synopsis
On May 31, 2021, I interviewed Gabriella Alderete about her experience with Bryan Mineo and One With the Ocean (OWO) in San Diego. She stated the following:
Statement
I am a 14-year cancer survivor. I started swimming with Bryan (Mineo) in Oceanside. I’m not an ocean swimmer. I found him through a tri club in San Diego. He and a lifeguard, Antony Nguyen, helped me recover from a hip injury. We had a coffee friendship and we bonded because we’re both from Texas. After my hip surgery I had a cane and a foam belt. Since they knew me, they would help me in and out of the ocean. After I no longer needed the cane, I started swimming with them. We were a small group, and no fees were collected, although we were encouraged to donate to OWO often.
In October 2019, Bryan told me I would benefit from a series of private training sessions. On October 28, 2019, I paid Bryan $850 for a series of 8 lessons. I received one. I also sent several payments to his personal Venmo account for OWO gear (t-shirts, sweaters and stickers).
During my time in the water with them, I followed his leadership. At this time, Bryan and Emily were usually in front and Benny stayed in the middle, but they never had anyone at the rear. I was always in the rear, usually alone because I’m not a strong swimmer.
It was during an Odyssey Swim that I was completely abandoned in the water. We were experiencing a king tide; Bryan knew I was still recovering from GB surgery and I spent a lot of time hanging on to the board and just floating along with the group. At this time I would just do a loop or ½ a loop and hang on for the rest of the swim. So, when I looked up for support, I noticed I was completely alone.
I was tired, freaking out, hyperventilating, dry heaving and kept looking for assistance. I knew I had to keep swimming or die. I had a full panic attack in the ocean.
I could see the paddlers — Bryan, Emily and Benny — on boards, ahead of me in the shore break, never looking back. At one point, Emily and Benny stayed in the water, on their boards, chatting. Bryan went on shore to meet up with private clients. I had to dig deep, I told myself that this is not how I was going to die. I’ve been through way too much and survived through it all. I’m only alive because of sheer will and anger over being left behind.
When I was super close to shore Emily paddled over, surprised to see me. She asked if I wanted to hang on to her board, I cursed at her and kept going. Once on shore, I grabbed my stuff and left. They messaged me, Bryan apologized and said he had another client to meet. I told him it was his responsibility to get his first client out of the water before greeting any others.
I posted about my experience on social media without naming or tagging them. But people knew it was OWO and reached out with similar stories. Shortly after, I was contacted by one of Bryan’s fans and told to remove my post. I left it up because people need to know what they’re getting themselves into.
Sworn Witness Statement
Conness Miller
Date of Interview: June 3, 2021
Report Date: June 3, 2021
Investigator: E. Hernández · California Lic. No. 23896
Subject: Experience with One With the Ocean (OWO) in San Diego
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Synopsis
On June 3, 2021, I interviewed Conness Miller about her experience with One With the Ocean (OWO) in San Diego. She stated the following:
Statement
I started open water swimming in Half Moon Bay just over seven years ago. While living in Santa Barbara, I joined a small group of experienced swimmers. During my time there, one of the girls (Marcie Kjoller) drowned — she was a very experienced swimmer. Thankfully I was not there that day, but I attended her funeral. It demonstrates that no matter how experienced you are, we have to be on full alert when in the water. Everyone should have a swim buddy. Ideally, every swimmer should have a buddy before their shoes ever come off.
I started swimming with OWO in January of 2020. The very first time I swam with them I met Bryan. He said hello and said I should stay towards the rear of the group until I got more comfortable. That was it — no questions about my experience, no evaluation. It was a large group at Moonlight Beach, about 50–70 swimmers showed up at that time. It became clear that it was more of a you’re-on-your-own thing. Bryan and other coaches would paddle on boards, but they spent most time facing and talking to each other.
I stopped going around March of 2020 due to the lack of COVID-19 protocols. Around August I started going again. In September, during an Odyssey swim, I noticed an older man towards the back that was having a visibly hard time. I abandoned my workout to swim with him. While by his side, I kept looking up at Bryan so I could get his attention. He never looked back. He was paddling next to Antony, talking the whole time.
I left the beach feeling disappointed. This is his group. He should be paying attention to the swimmers, making sure every person is accounted for. He seems to place competitiveness above safety.
He runs this drill called The Odyssey. It’s where he paddles in the front of the group, drawing the faster swimmers to the front before changing directions. In one turn, the swimmer in front will find himself in the middle of the pack. I get the utility of the training technique, but it’s an accident waiting to happen. The whole point to open water swimming is for each person to have the space they need to complete their strokes. A large group of swimmers suddenly changing direction on a leader’s whim leads to confusion and people running into each other. It takes just a few seconds for a person to get punched or kicked and slip under the water.
After the experience with the abandoned swimmer, I gave it one last try. This time I stayed in the back to see if Bryan or Antony were keeping watch over the group. I saw more of the same. A lot of chatting and joking between two guys up in the front. No one in the middle or rear to keep an eye on the swimmers. So, I left and I haven’t gone back. I found a smaller group who swims in La Jolla.
When I saw what Gabriella posted on social media, I reached out to her to let her know she did the right thing.
Bryan is going to get someone killed.
Sworn Witness Statement
Gerry Rodrigues
Date of Interview: May 19, 2021
Report Date: June 3, 2021
Investigator: E. Hernández · California Lic. No. 23896
Subject: Open water swimming experience and Bryan Mineo
Witness contact: gerry@tower26.com
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Synopsis
On May 19, 2021, I interviewed Gerry Rodrigues about his experience with open-water swimming and Bryan Mineo. He stated the following:
Statement
By way of background, I’ve been swimming since 1969. I’ve been the overall winner in more than 100 open water races. I’ve been the U.S. and World Masters Champion in pool and open water. I founded Tower 26, a swim coaching and consulting business, and was a founding member of the first triathlon club in Los Angeles in 1983. I’ve been an Expert Coach at Ironman U and U.S. Masters Coach of the Year. I’m the former owner of SWIM Magazine and have been widely published in various trade industry publications. I am also a Co-Founder of the World Open Water Swimming Association.
Bryan (Mineo) came to my attention when his articles started appearing in print and online publications. The content was very familiar — he plagiarized my writings and those of other industry professionals, who I know very well.
I started looking into his “qualifications” and “experience” and found other false claims. He claimed to be an athlete at Virginia Tech, physical therapist in Texas and expert open-water swimming coach. A simple investigation into Virginia Tech athletics, the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners and other licensing agencies prove his claims to be false.
The real issue is not just plagiarism or false claims — it’s safety. Bryan uses these “qualifications” to boost his résumé and attract swimmers to his foundation and coaching services.
I’ll tell you about the fundamental problem with his methodology. Experienced and licensed professionals will tell you the first rule of open water swimming is proficiency in a pool. A responsible coach will have a swimmer demonstrate a high level of proficiency in the controlled environment of a pool before ever inviting them into the open ocean. Of course, this means that a coach must have an association or partnership that allows him access to a pool. This, of course, costs money. Bryan has no associations with any pools — he invites inexperienced swimmers straight into open water with no evaluation of their skills or abilities.
Training, coaching, mentoring — whatever you choose to call it — is a huge responsibility. You are responsible for the people you invite in the ocean.
The other area of concern is the year-round schedule. In Southern California, the season starts in May and goes through October. While this may not maximize profits, it takes into account the colder temperatures and changes in swells, which come with the winter months. Running a year-round training schedule is a risk most of us are not willing to take. We must put safety above everything else.
Failure to do so will inevitably result in tragedy. His practices endanger individual lives and our open water swimming community as a whole.