Winners: Marilyn Bell, Swimming
Marilyn Bell before she begins her swim across Lake Ontario.
Date: September 9, 1954
Collection: CP photo
1954 - Feature Story
She was already an accomplished, if largely unknown, long distance swimmer before she entered the frigid waters of Lake Ontario at Youngstown, New York on September 8, 1954. But by the time she touched the break water near Toronto’s Canadian National Exhibition grounds some 20 hours and 56 minutes later, Marilyn Bell was a sports celebrity. The 16-year-old Toronto schoolgirl had been a strong swimmer from a young age and earlier that year had proven her mettle in being the first woman to finish the 26-mile Atlantic City swimming marathon. Still, she was considered a rank outsider in a 32-mile swimming contest across Lake Ontario that was expected to showcase the talent of great marathon swimmer Florence Chadwick. But six hours into the swim, Bell was the only competitor still swimming as strong winds and currents had sapped the strength of her rivals. Bell became the first person to successfully swim Lake Ontario and the effort was lauded not only across Canada but around the world.
1955 - Feature Story
A year later, at age 17, Marilyn Bell plunged into another endeavour that would gain her further admiration. She became the youngest person to swim the English Channel, covering the 21-mile distance from France to England in 14 hours, 36 minutes. The next day the teen delighted her fans by taking a recreational swim at Dover.
Career Highlights
- 2003 Named to the Order of Ontario
- 1955 Youngest person to swim the English Channel
- 1954, 1955 Bobbie Rosenfeld Award (Canada’s female athlete of the year)
- 1954 First person to swim across Lake Ontario, in 20 hours and 56 minutes.
- 1954 Lou Marsh Memorial Award
Signed portrait of Marilyn Bell.
Date: 1954
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Swimsuit worn by Marilyn Bell during her swim across Lake Ontario.
Date: 1954
Collection: Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
Marilyn Bell receiving a drink from her coach, Gus Ryder.
Date: 1954
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Feeding stick used to pass food to Marilyn Bell during her swim across Lake Ontario.
Date: 1954
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Photograph of Marilyn Bell before swimming across Lake Ontario. Bell started her marathon swim in Youngstown, New York.
Date: September 9, 1954
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Photograph of Marilyn Bell at the start of her swim across Lake Ontario. Bell completed the swim in about twenty-one hours.
Date: September 9, 1954
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Goggles worn by Marilyn Bell during her swim across Lake Ontario.
Date: 1954
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Marilyn Bell completing her swim across Lake Ontario. There are two life boats beside Bell as she is about to touch the breakwaters at Sunnyside Beach near the Canadian National Exhibition Grounds in Toronto, Ontario.
Date: September 9, 1954
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Marilyn Bell on a gurney after her swim across Lake Ontario.
Date: 1954
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
