Success Stories

I recently swam across Lake Ontario. This was a 52-kilometre swim that took me 15 hours, 11 minutes and 11 seconds. Just 71 seconds off the world record, although I’m not giving up yet. I plan to attempt the lake again this summer on an unofficial date of July 30.

When I’m not endeavouring to surpass swimming records I swim with the local Wilmot Aquatic Aces Club. I've been swimming competitively since I was seven, but began swimming as a form of physiotherapy when I was two. I did the physio in Owen Sound until I went in remission from Juvenile Arthritis at the age of six.

I first started coming to WSM when I was experiencing knee problems at the age of 14. I did a lot of leg strength work with my physiotherapist and eventually the pain went away. I came back at the age of 15 with a sore back, my lower back muscles were too weak and it was causing problems. So yet again I worked at strengthening my muscles, and finally the problem ceased. Then last year before my swim I started to notice that my shoulders were bothering me from all the excess swimming so I came in again and worked on strengthening them. About a month before my swim my back started to bother me, so I again came in and worked on strengthening it.

The back work I did with my physiotherapist Rob is why I believe my back bothered me for less than an hour during my swim. I found that during the swim all the work I put into it prior to, allowed me to experience a back-pain free swim. (2004)