Caroline Block first to swim two-way Lake George

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caroline block lake george
Caroline Block in Lake George. Photo by Elaine Howley.

Just before 10pm Eastern time this evening, Caroline Block completed a two-way crossing of the length of Lake George, New York – 103.6 km (64.4 miles) in 54 hours, 27 minutes (unofficial time, pending ratification). She is the first person to do so – and only 12 swimmers have even swum it one-way (51.8 km) since Diane Struble‘s pioneering effort in 1958.

The swim also established a new world distance record for a multi-way lake swim, eclipsing Vicki Keith‘s 96km two-way Lake Ontario swim in 1987. It is the third-longest freshwater swim of all-time (behind only Sarah Thomas‘ Lake Champlain and Lake Powell swims), and the 7th-longest swim by duration.

Caroline (a four-time North Channel swimmer) endured persistently windy conditions and night air in the 40s (F), according to MSF observers Elaine Kornbau Howley and Jeannie Zappe. The swim was piloted by James VanHeste, Kimberly VanHeste, and Kurt Riley of Waterhorse Adventures, based in Glens Falls. Kellie Latimer, Deb Henson, and Rose Buchmann served as crew.

Full documentation to follow.