It's 8:30 in Dover and in typical Marilyn style it seems she will be finishing the crossing in a unique way. With less than a mile to go and still making progress Marilyn no-my-name's-not-Bell Korzekwa has drifted into the ferry crossing lane apparently deciding she would rather finish at the ferry terminal than on a beach. Perhaps she is looking forward to a warm ferry ride home rather than the 2.5 hour return trip on Masterpiece shivering in the small un-heated cabin. Not to worry though as the crew is diverting her to the nearest French beach. With the sun setting this may not provide much warmth however it will be somewhat safer.
There are many boat traffic issues one must consider when crossing the channel not the least of which are the endless line of car, truck and people ferries that run 24 hours per day. Despite the Chunnel option many people travelling between the 2 countries still prefer the ferry. Marilyn is now clear of the other major boat traffic which are the more than 500 ocean going cargo vessels that pass through the channel each day. The channel is actually set up like a highway with boats going east required to stick to one area and boats travelling west to another. The interesting part is that the boats pass on the right side of the channel. I guess the French finally won one over the English who, for some reason, prefer to drive on the left.
I have just been informed that the cell phone on the boat is running low on battery. Hopefully they can charge it on board so we can bring you the final moments of Marilyn's heroic accomplishment. Stay tuned while we address these technical difficulties.
Marilyn's swim across the English Channel 2011
"For me, marathon swimming is the ultimate mental, physical and emotional challenge".
Diana Nyad, Other Shores, 1978
I've always loved swimming. I've been swimming since age 2, competitively since age 13. I'm now 54 and hoping to become the oldest Canadian female to swim the English channel; 33.2 kilometres from Samphire Hoe Beach, Dover, England to Cap Griz Nez, France. I swam Lake Ontario from Niagara on the Lake to Toronto in 1983 and from Toronto to Port Dalhousie (north to south against the powerful Niagara River current) in 1984. I was only the second person to swim Lake Ontario north to south, Diana Nyad being the first. The above quote is one of my favourites, especially since Diana at 61 was also recently trying to prove that older athletes can still achieve big goals.
Why the English Channel? I was quoted in the Toronto Star in 1984 saying my next big swim would be the English Channel. But then life happened, I got married, had 3 boys, but always kept swimming at least twice a week. Last summer, Debbie Bang challenged me to swim 26 kilometres in Muskoka. When I finished it, I felt I could have swum further. When Colleen Shields at 58 breezed across Lake Ontario last August (but was foiled by weather at the very end), I realized I could still do another big swim at my age. Swimmers in Dover say the Channel is the Everest of swims. I'm not so sure, people have accomplished longer and colder swims in other parts of the world. For me, there is something about ocean swimming that is the ultimate. The English Channel is part of world history and swimming tradition. My grandmother lived in England and took me to the beach on the channel, so it is also nostalgia and familiar. What really cemented the idea in my mind is pacing Kim Middleton across the channel in 1989. I just "woke up" last September and realized time was running out.
So I have been inspired and supported by a great many people. (Thank you!) In doing this swim I would like to inspire others to dream big and go out and achieve their goals. But, in this journey I have learned that reaching smaller training goals along the way has also inspired others. Swimming Lake Simcoe from Barrie to Orillia, 35 kilometres in 18 hours and 44 minutes is the biggest example of this, especially since the water was 13 degrees Celsius for the first 3 hours. Even if the channel weather foils me on August 21, 22, or 23, it was worth doing.
I am also pleased to be able to use this opportunity to raise money for the Good Shepherd Centres in Hamilton. They run a network of shelters and services for troubled youth, abused women and children, the dying, the mentally and physically challenged, the hungry and the homeless. They strive to support people through crisis and help them re-establish healthy and productive lives. They have been very good to my patients over the years and for this I am grateful. Please support my swim by donating to the Good Shepherd centres. Thank you. http://www.goodshepherdcentres.ca/News/events.htm
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