Rebekah Boscariol took a page out of another Canadian teenager’s marathon swimming history when she swam 52 kilometers across Lake Ontario this August. 

Replicating what the famous Marilyn Bell did in 1954, the 17-year-old swam for 15 hours and 33 minutes to come close to setting a new record.  

But her motivation and goal was clear:

to raise money and give back to the cardiac care section at SickKids Foundation at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children where her 4-year-old sister Sophia had surgery to repair a hole in her heart.  Despite a late due to turbulent waters, Rebekah has not about to cancel or stop her swim.  As the 55th person to successfully cross the lake, the teenager was symbolic of swimmers who do extraordinary feats of endurance to benefit others.  While SickKids has been a big part of Rebekah’s family and community, she is also part of a bigger global family of marathon swimmers.  For her unselfish effort to help sick children, Rebekah Boscariol’s 52K swim in Lake Ontario is a worthy nominee for the 2011 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year.

For more information on Rebekah Boscariol, visit here.

WOWSA aims to promote open water swimming as a global sport for those of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.  It hosts the World Open Water Swimming Awards to recognize the open water swimming’s heroes and heroines.

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source