51km Across Lake Ontario
In 1954, at the age of 16, Marilyn Bell completed the first recorded swim across Lake Ontario, a distance of 51 kilometers, in 20 hours and 59 minutes. Since then 56 people have completed the swim across Lake Ontario. This August I hope to be the 57th.
The swim begins at Niagra on the Lake at 3 in the morning and hopefully, if all goes as planned, will end 17 hours later at Marilyn Bell Park in Toronto.
In order to achieve this goal of mine I've relied on a dedicated team of people who have volunteered their time and effort to help me. The swim itself requires two to three boats with two drivers per boat, three to four lifeguards or individuals who hold a current NLS certification, a paramedic, and a swim master who has been appointed to me by SOLO Swims of Ontario. During this swim no individual, besides the swim master, is allowed to have any physical contact with me. I will not be allowed to hold on to any of the boats during feeding or rest times, and will not be permitted to use anything that will assist me during my swim such as, any buoyancy device or fins.
Since October 2011 I have been training 10 to 14 hours a week with my coach Kathleen, as well as the pacers/ lifeguards that will be accompanying me on the swim. The first seven months of training in the pool will consist of a combination of work outs, drills, and endurance swims. We are working on building both my endurance and speed indoors. As soon as the warmer months come we will be able to take it to open water swims, which will prepare me for the weather conditions, waves, currents and colder water temperatures I'll experience on Lake Ontario. This is one of the biggest challenges I have ever had to face, but one of the most exciting as well. I am very thankful to the entire team, as well as all my friends and family who have supported me on this journey.
The swim begins at Niagra on the Lake at 3 in the morning and hopefully, if all goes as planned, will end 17 hours later at Marilyn Bell Park in Toronto.
In order to achieve this goal of mine I've relied on a dedicated team of people who have volunteered their time and effort to help me. The swim itself requires two to three boats with two drivers per boat, three to four lifeguards or individuals who hold a current NLS certification, a paramedic, and a swim master who has been appointed to me by SOLO Swims of Ontario. During this swim no individual, besides the swim master, is allowed to have any physical contact with me. I will not be allowed to hold on to any of the boats during feeding or rest times, and will not be permitted to use anything that will assist me during my swim such as, any buoyancy device or fins.
Since October 2011 I have been training 10 to 14 hours a week with my coach Kathleen, as well as the pacers/ lifeguards that will be accompanying me on the swim. The first seven months of training in the pool will consist of a combination of work outs, drills, and endurance swims. We are working on building both my endurance and speed indoors. As soon as the warmer months come we will be able to take it to open water swims, which will prepare me for the weather conditions, waves, currents and colder water temperatures I'll experience on Lake Ontario. This is one of the biggest challenges I have ever had to face, but one of the most exciting as well. I am very thankful to the entire team, as well as all my friends and family who have supported me on this journey.