Marilyn Bell was a long-distance swimmer whose fame and success skyrocketed after her historic swim across Lake Ontario. Her career was marked by numerous accolades, and she made significant contributions to the world of sports. As a teenager, Marilyn built a remarkable athletic career with ease. Learn more about her inspiring journey on itoronto.info.
Childhood and Education
Marilyn Bell was born on October 19, 1937, in Toronto. She attended St. Mary’s School in Toronto before enrolling at Loretta College School. The Bell family frequently relocated, requiring Marilyn to change schools multiple times.
In 1946, the family returned to Toronto, where Marilyn’s parents enrolled her in swimming lessons at the Oakwood pool. She loved swimming and eagerly attended lessons, eventually setting a record of swimming one mile in 70 minutes.
In 1947, Marilyn participated in a one-mile swimming competition on Lake Ontario. Around this time, she joined the Lakeshore Swimming Club in neighbouring Etobicoke, training under the renowned swimming coach Gus Ryder.
Marilyn quickly established herself as a world-class long-distance swimmer. In July 1954, she competed in a significant 41.8-kilometre swim held to commemorate the centenary of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Canadian swimmers dominated the event, and Marilyn finished first among women and seventh overall.
The Lake Ontario Swim
As part of a publicity campaign, the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) offered $10,000 to popular American swimmer Florence Chadwick if she could swim across Lake Ontario. In response, the event was opened to additional participants, and Marilyn Bell joined the lineup.
The swim began on September 8, 1954, at 11:00 PM. Marilyn entered the lake and swam the planned 51.5 kilometres from Youngstown, New York, to Toronto’s western shore. She achieved this remarkable feat after spending 20 hours and 59 minutes in the water.
The crowd watching the swim was awestruck by Marilyn’s endurance. She emerged from the water semi-conscious due to hypothermia and exhaustion, unable to recall how she completed the monumental swim.
Career Development
Marilyn’s feat captured global attention. Her achievement inspired many to attempt similar swims, with some surpassing her time. However, no one matched the glory and public admiration Marilyn earned.
Journalists lined up for interviews, and the public showered her with gifts and praise. Marilyn became a national hero, celebrated for her humility, intelligence, and charm. In 1954, she won the Lou Marsh Trophy and was named Canada’s Female Athlete of the Year.
Her accomplishments cemented her status as a celebrity, and she frequently appeared in television documentaries. In 2001, a film about her life, Heart: The Marilyn Bell Story, was released.
In 1955, the Toronto Telegram offered Marilyn $15,000 to swim across the English Channel, a challenge she eagerly accepted. On July 31, 1955, she became the youngest person to successfully swim the Channel, covering the distance from Cap Gris-Nez, France, to Abbotscliff, England, in 14 hours and 36 minutes. Canadian media once again named her Female Athlete of the Year.
In 1956, Marilyn undertook another challenging swim, crossing the Juan de Fuca Strait between Vancouver Island and Washington State, where she claimed victory.
Later in 1956, Marilyn married Joe Di Lascio, a U.S. law enforcement officer. She decided to retire from competitive swimming and settled with her husband in New Jersey. The couple had four children, and Marilyn dedicated herself to raising them. She later pursued a teaching degree and began working with children with special needs.
In 2007, following her husband’s death, Marilyn moved into a senior living facility in New York.
For her outstanding contributions to sports, Marilyn Bell was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. Her legacy as a trailblazer in long-distance swimming continues to inspire generations.