If Buffalo is the Queen of the Great Lakes, then Vicki Keith is our Princess of the Great Lakes.
The year was 1988. The day was On This Day. Vicki Keith became the most heralded swimmer to grace titles upon the world’s 25% of its fresh waters bodies. If the Queen City is proud of her lakes, the pride in this generation goes to Her Lake’s Princess, Vicki Keith. An adventurous aquatic athlete, she also possesses a soul with boundless good deeds.
“Vicki has proven that a successful life means that we are engaged in the lives of others, that we are not islands unto ourselves… Vicki has shown a wonderful sense of personal responsibility and concern for others” –George H. Bush – 41st President of the United States.
Here’s the key to this young lady’s amazement: Yes she swam the English Channel, but she also made world wide news for swimming—and On This Day, August 30, 1988, she staggered ashore the sandy beaches of Ontario, from a two-month marathon, swimming ALL of our 5 Great Lakes, and setting the women’s world distance record of 38 km for the Butterfly Stroke.
Vicki currently holds 16 world records and has received over 41 honors and awards, having crossed many of the world’s most challenging bodies of water. To date, she has raised over $1 million to help children with physical disabilities, and puts much focus on our neighboring Fort Erie programs.Retired from marathon swimming since 1991, Keith continues to raise awareness and funds for programs and projects to help children with physical disabilities and makes public appearances as an inspirational speaker.
The end of the Leslie Street Spit in Toronto has been named Vicki Keith Point in her honour. This is place where she made most of her landings after crossing Lake Ontario.
- First crossing of all five Great Lakes (completed in a two month period)
- First double crossing of Lake Ontario
- First butterfly swim across the English Channel
- Longest solo swim (distance) 94 km
- Longest solo swim (time) 63 hours 40 minutes
- 129 hours, 45 minutes continuous swimming (pool record)
- Greatest distance, butterfly (male or female) 80.2 km
- Most crossings of Lake Ontario (six)
- Circumnavigation of Sydney Harbour (butterfly)
- Crossing of the Juan de Fuca Strait in British Columbia (butterfly)
- Crossing of Lake Ontario (butterfly)
- Crossing of Catalina Channel (butterfly)
She’s done quite enough in the water—but when asked if she would ever get back in the water to complete another marathon swim, Vicki’s answer has usually been “Only if I am guaranteed to raise a million dollars for my favorite charity.” She currently lives in Kingston Ontario with her husband John and runs her charity, helping us all.
Think about making a donation to her program at our neighboring Fort Erie YMCA to support Vicki Keith’s “Y Knot Abilities Programs,” –phone (905) 871-9622, or to send a check write “Y Knot Abilities” in the memo area and mail your check to: 1555 Garrison Road, Fort Erie, ON, Canada, L2A 1P8.
And please visit her site:
And that’s some good news from On This Day from Queen City Buffalo and Her Great Lakes.