Swim attempt cut short
Photo: Instagram
Vancouver swimmer Jessi Harewicz ended her attempt to complete Canada’s longest unassisted, non-stop swim in Okanagan Lake after covering 30 kilometres over 17 hours on Friday.
A Vancouver swimmer attempting to complete Canada’s longest unassisted, non-stop swim in Okanagan Lake has ended her attempt after swimming 30 kilometres.
Jessi Harewicz began her swim near Vernon early Friday morning but stopped at Whisky Island in Lake Country Friday evening after spending 17 hours in the water.
According to a post on her Instagram account, Harewicz continued swimming despite becoming ill for much of the day.
“She battled through eight of those hours vomiting and floating on her back,” the post said.
“Her mental toughness and resilience is something special to witness.”
Harewicz was attempting the swim without a wetsuit and, under the rules of an unassisted crossing, did not stop or touch her support boat. She relied only on a swimsuit, swim cap, goggles and earplugs throughout the attempt.
The swim was also a fundraiser for Foundry, raising more than $9,000 so far to help expand youth and family services across the Okanagan.
Funds raised will support Foundry’s integrated model of care, providing free mental health counselling, substance use services, physical and sexual health care, peer support, family support, education and employment resources, and other community services for young people aged 12 to 24 and their families.
The most recent person to successfully swim the full length of Okanagan Lake was local ultra-endurance athlete Nick Pelletier, who completed the challenge in just over 70 hours.