Mike O’Donnell

LIFEGUARD AND DORY RACING

San Pedro native Mike O’Donnell has served as a Los Angeles County Ocean Lifeguard for almost 50 years. He has excelled in lifeguard dory boat racing, winning two national open surfboat titles, as well as many national age group titles. He has also won the National Doryman’s Association championship a record seven times. He has completed a race across the Catalina Channel 30 times, earning several first place finishes. In 2018, the National Doryman’s Association renamed the race ‘The Mike O’Donnell Catalina Classic Dory Race’ as a tribute to his dedication to the sport. He is proud to have been part of 21 winning Lifeguard Taplin Relay teams, in a race considered worldwide to be the ultimate surf racing event. Mike is involved in the LA County Junior Lifeguard Program, teaching stretching & injury prevention techniques. He also serves as the team physical therapist for the United States Lifesaving Association’s national teams. In 2011, he was awarded the Professional Lifeguard Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of dedicated service to others.

Mike has been as dedicated to his physical therapy career as he has been to lifeguarding. He received his master’s & doctoral degrees in physical therapy from USC, & went on to serve as a member of the USC faculty for 25 years. He is the proud owner of Harbor Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine in San Pedro, where he has treated thousands of clients over his 40 years in practice.