Cliff Lumsdon Honored With 10 Aquatic Greats

The International Swimming Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2013 and it included one of the all-time greats of open water swimming.

The ten individuals selected for induction include Cliff Lumsdon of Canada, along with Gary Hall, Jr., Pieter van den Hoogenband (NED), Yana Klochkova (UKR), Dagmar Hase (GER), Hu Jia (CHN), Nathalie Schneyder (USA), Milivoj Bebic (YUG, CRO), coach Alberto Castagnetti (ITA) and contributor Peter Montgomery (AUS).

Lumsdon, who passed away in 1991, and his ISHOF Class will be formally inducted at the International Swimming Hall of Fame’s 49th Annual Induction Ceremonies on May 11th in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Lumsdon epitomized the description fast and tough. And he deservedly retired from competitid in 1965 with career total earnings of $152,000

He not only was the world professional marathon swimming champion 5 times (1949-1954), but he was also as tough as nails in cold water. He was the second person to swim across the Strait of Juan de Fuca in 11 hours 35 minutes in 48ºC (8.8ºC) and once swam 32 miles in 18+ hours in water between 48-52ºF (8.8-11ºC). Besides finishing first or second in seven 35 km races around Atlantic City over a decade (1954-1964), and was renowned for being the only finisher in the famed 32-mile Canadian National Exhibition race in Lake Ontario in 1955 (among 35 starters).

In 1949, he won the Lou Marsh Trophy for the outstanding Canadian Athlete of the year, and was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1976, the Ontario Aquatic Hall of Fame in 1993, and the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 1969. The Cliff Lumsdon Award is presented for outstanding achievement in marathon swimming in Ontario.

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