Home   |   The Site   |   Blog   |   Three-Seasons   |   Q & A   |   Register   |   Map / Contact Us
posted August 17th, 2012
Retired marathon swimmer still active in retirement

Talk about an active retiree. Nearly 60 years after Marilyn Bell’s historic swim across Lake Ontario, the 74-year-old still coaches the sport along with her regular exercise in the swimming pool.

An article in the Toronto Star yesterday profiles Marilyn Bell Di Lascio, who now lives in a retirement community in upstate New York, but finds every opportunity to enjoy the water, despite a degenerative back condition that makes it painful to swim.

Bell-swims-lake

Back in 1954, the then-16-year-old surprised everyone by coming from nowhere to be the first person to swim across the lake. An American was the odds-on favourite to set the record, with backing from the CNE, but Bell achieved the milestone. Both started around the same time, but Florence Chadwick dropped out partway across, and after a 21-hour swim, Bell climbed out of the water at Sunnyside Beach.




  • Categories:

    • Boating
    • Events
    • Health
    • Historical Meaford
    • Meaford Businesses
    • Meaford Community Groups
    • Meaford's Great Outdoors
    • Miscellaneous
    • Music
    • Real Estate
    • Resources
  • Archives:

    • July 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • February 2015
    • January 2015
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • February 2013
    • January 2013
    • December 2012
    • November 2012
    • October 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • March 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
    • December 2011
    • November 2011
    • October 2011
    • September 2011
    • August 2011
    • July 2011
    • June 2011
    • May 2011
    • April 2011
  • Click here for fast access to info on these topics

    • agriculture
    • apples
    • architecture
    • art
    • beach
    • books
    • camping
    • cider
    • classical music
    • clubs
    • country farms
    • crafts
    • cycling
    • fall colours
    • festivals
    • film
    • finances
    • fishing
    • fitness
    • folk music
    • food and drink
    • gardening
    • golf
    • golf tournaments
    • healthcare
    • hiking trails
    • horses
    • live music
    • Meaford history
    • Memorial Park
    • real estate
    • retirement
    • sailing
    • scenic tours
    • shopping
    • skiing
    • successful aging
    • The Other Big Apple
    • theatre
    • volunteering
    • weather
    • wine
    • winter sports
  • Copyright © Meaford Haven e.&o.e.   Home | The Site | Blog | Three-Seasons | Q & A | Register | Map/Contact Us | Site Map