Solo Swims of Ontario Inc.

Hall of Fame

MARILYN KORZEKWA

Dr Marilyn Korzekwa, MD was the first person to have completed Lake Ontario swims from both south-to-north and north-to-south on September 1-2, 1983 and August 17-18, 1984 respectively. Her 1984 north-south swim was the first completed by a Canadian, and had only been preceded by USA swimmer Diana Nyad in 1974. The start of the 1983 swim is shown above, together with the approach to Toronto with the legendary Cliff Lumsdon driving the inflatable.

The start and finish of the 1984 swim are depicted below. On the left and about to exit the inflatable to start at Leslie Street Spit, Marilyn is seen well-greased with (L-R) friend, Cliff Lumsdon, and Brian Mercer. At the right, and 21 hours 0 minutes later, Marilyn is seen exiting the water at the beach to the west of the harbour at Port Dalhousie.

Since 1988, she has contributed much time to the organization and planning of SSO activities - serving on the Board of Directors, acting as the Medical Officer, Vice President, Secretary, and Chair of the Risk Management activities.

Marilyn was stimulated to get back into serious training again in 2010, and completed a cold and arduous 18:45 swim on 26-27 June 2011 on Lake Simcoe (Barrie to Orillia). This swim was completed as a "warm up" for her successful crossing of the English Channel (E-F) in 16:40 on 21 Aug 2011 to become the oldest Canadian woman to cross the Channel.

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Updated: 30^th March 2013