9-year-old boy swims to Alcatraz and back to San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO -- A boy from Central California isn't just studying history, he's making it. Nine-year-old James Savage gave his family and friends plenty to cheer about in San Francisco Wednesday.

James is now the youngest person to make the treacherous swim out to Alcatraz and back to San Francisco's Aquatic Park.

He said that waves in the San Francisco Bay hitting him in the face 30 minutes into his swim made him want to give up.

"I thought it was going to be easy at first. And after I got out there, the tide was pushing me all around...I was about to quit, but then I kept on going," said James.

James began swimming when he was 4 years old. His dad promised him $100 if he made the swim. When James started getting a little tired along the way, dad boosted the figure to $200.

He pushed forward, making it to Alcatraz and back in a little more than two hours. Alcatraz is over a mile from the mainland.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.