Marilyn Bell (Herstory 1976) challenged notions of female endurance and became a Canadian sport hero when in 1954 at 16, she swam "for Canada" against an American marathon swimmer and successfully crossed Lake Ontario. The exact distance she swam is unknown: the strong wind and currents blew her off the direct course of 51.5 kilometres. Bell went on to swim the English Channel and Strait of Juan de Fuca--achievements echoed by Vicki Keith (Herstory 1993) years later, using the butterfly stroke. Keith, who retired from marathon swimming in 1991, "had never been good at any sport in my life; I was the last pick for team sports." She set 14 world records in marathon swimming over the course of her career.
In another parallel, both women worked with disabled children. As Keith noted, "Water is freedom for them; they can move around for the first time. Pools are essential for them." Keith earned over $800,000 for charity during her swimming career.
