Whiz Kids

In 2005, nine-year-old Johnny Wilson set a new world record by becoming the youngest person ever to make the 1.4 mile-long swim across the treacherous waters of the San Francisco Bay. To prepare for his record-breaking swim, Johnny trained for two years followed by three months of conditioning to get used to the freezing temperatures in the Bay.

To get motivated, Johnny decided to raise money for every quarter mile of his swim and donate it to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. On top of setting the world record, Johnny raised a grand total of $50,800 in donations—proving one small person can make a big splash!