Maybe Angel Cortiñas got his love of challenges from his father. His determination more than likely came from both sides.

Cortiñas’ father was a renowned Cuban endurance swimmer who crossed the Strait of Gibraltar in 10 hours and 45 minutes, bulked up to 260 pounds to withstand the grueling cold of the shark-infested Catalina Channel — twice, and swam from Alcatraz to San Francisco in one hour and 14 minutes — handcuffed and with his legs bound.