TORONTO – A new record was set by 14-year-old Annaleise Carr on Sunday as she became the youngest person to successfully swim across Lake Ontario.
The teen from Norfolk County completed the gruelling 52 kilometre trek in just under 27 hours.
Yet with the possibility of breaking another record – this time adding more years to the oldest woman title, Colleen Shields will be trying to conquer the route once again, however no date has been set.
Global News takes a closer look at the milestones, the routes, and the elements that can serve as a barrier in Lake Ontario`s swimming feat.
MILESTONES:
-Before Carr, there have been 56 people who successfully swam across Lake Ontario.
-Sixteen-year-old Marilyn Bell on September 1954 became the first person to swim across Lake Ontario.
-Almost two years later on July 1956, John Jaremey became the second person – and the first man – to finish the swim.
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-Cindy Nicholas holds the record for being the fastest female, clocking in at 15 hours and 10 minutes.
-Vicki Keith – a four-time participant – is the only successful two-way swimmer, and also holds the lake’s only butterfly crossing.
-On August 2006, Colleen Shields became the oldest female to swim across the lake at 54-years-old.
-Before Carr’s successful record-breaking swim, 15-year-old Jade Scognamillo of Thornhill on July 2009 finished her swim of Lake Ontario in just under 20 hours.
RECOGNIZED SWIMMING ROUTE:
-The 52 kilometre official route starts off at the mouth of the Niagara River, located in the south of Niagara-on-the-Lake, with a swimming direction of northwest. The path passes along Aquatic Drive on Lakeshore Boulevard, then finishing off at the Marilyn Bell Park at the foot of Jameson Avenue.
-There has been a few routes in the past before, an official one was recognized by Solo Swims of Ontario, a registered charity created in 1975, and deemed as the official provincial swimming body for people participating in long distance solo swims in Ontario: The Leslie Street Spit and the Clark Beach Park, at the foot of Cherry Street.
BATTLING THE ELEMENTS:
One of the biggest medical concerns when attempting to swim Lake Ontario is cramping from the cold current and exhaustion.
The lake`s temperatures vary from location to location as well as wind direction with north winds that could make for a colder swim. Estimated temperatures sit roughly at 22 degrees Celsius and dropping to about 10 degrees.
-Source: Solo Swims of Ontario Inc.
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