Colleen Shields - Swimmer
Colleen Shields first crossed Lake Ontario from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Leslie Street Spit on August 10-11, 1990 in 17 hours 56 minutes at age 38.
So, at age 38, she became the oldest woman to have crossed the lake, beating the previous record of 28-year-old Brenda Fisher (1956 swim) and Vicki Keith (1989 swim). Colleen held this record for one year until 45-year-old Patty Thompson crossed the lake. She regained the record on 12-13 August 2006 when she crossed from NOTL to Marilyn Bell Park with an impressive time of 16:30:17 at age 54y 329d. In 2017, American Pat Gallant-Charette, at age 66y 209d, took the title as the Oldest Person (Male or Female) to conquer on this course,
At age 62y 325d on 9 August 2014, almost exactly 14 years after he first crossing, she became the oldest person, man or woman, to cross the lake with her swim from NOTL to MBP in a time of 21:33:49.
Colleen has a history of achievements in sprint swimming, and took part in Canada's Olympic Trials in 1968 on both the 100 and 200 m Backstroke. She has continued her sprint swimming through Masters competition, representing Etobicoke Masters.
In 1997, Colleen received the Cliff Lumsdon Award of SSO in recognition of her marathon swimming achievements, her service on the SSO Board, and her continued support of other swimmers.
So, at age 38, she became the oldest woman to have crossed the lake, beating the previous record of 28-year-old Brenda Fisher (1956 swim) and Vicki Keith (1989 swim). Colleen held this record for one year until 45-year-old Patty Thompson crossed the lake. She regained the record on 12-13 August 2006 when she crossed from NOTL to Marilyn Bell Park with an impressive time of 16:30:17 at age 54y 329d. In 2017, American Pat Gallant-Charette, at age 66y 209d, took the title as the Oldest Person (Male or Female) to conquer on this course,
At age 62y 325d on 9 August 2014, almost exactly 14 years after he first crossing, she became the oldest person, man or woman, to cross the lake with her swim from NOTL to MBP in a time of 21:33:49.
Colleen has a history of achievements in sprint swimming, and took part in Canada's Olympic Trials in 1968 on both the 100 and 200 m Backstroke. She has continued her sprint swimming through Masters competition, representing Etobicoke Masters.
In 1997, Colleen received the Cliff Lumsdon Award of SSO in recognition of her marathon swimming achievements, her service on the SSO Board, and her continued support of other swimmers.