SwimSwam welcomes reader submissions about all topics aquatic, and if it’s well-written and well-thought, we might just post it under our “Shouts from the Stands” series. We don’t necessarily endorse the content of the Shouts from the Stands posts, and the opinions remain those of their authors. If you have thoughts to share, please send them to [email protected].
This “Shouts from the Stands” submission comes from Robyn Coleman, a stroke survivor who is training to swim across Lake Okanagan in June.
I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love the water. Ever since I was little, swimming has been my escape, my passion, and the place where I feel most alive. But at 12, everything changed. I had a stroke. It should have taken swimming away from me. It should have taken everything away from me. But I refused to let it.
Now, at 19 years old, I am preparing for the biggest swim of my life—a 106-kilometer/66-mile Guinness World Record attempt across Lake Okanagan in June 2025. This isn’t just about distance. It’s about proving to the world—and myself—that no challenge is too great to overcome.
Swimming Through Adversity
When I had my stroke, we weren’t sure what my future would look like. I was young, I was scared, and suddenly, my body didn’t work the way it always had. The sport I loved felt impossibly far away. But I refused to let my story end there.
Recovery wasn’t easy. I had to relearn how to move, build strength, and trust my body again. There were days when it felt impossible, but I kept going. And one day, I found myself back in the water—not just swimming but pushing further than ever. The COVID pandemic temporarily shut down the pools, but it opened a world of possibility that became a passion: open-water swimming.
Swimming became my way of fighting back. I wasn’t just surviving—I was proving that I could thrive. And now, I want to show other pediatric stroke survivors, athletes, and anyone facing adversity that you can beat anything if you refuse to quit.
Training for a 106km Swim
Preparing for this swim is unlike anything I’ve ever done. My training involves long hours in the pool, open-water sessions, and strength training to build the endurance needed to swim for over 72 hours straight.
Whether it’s a 10km in Parry Sound in Lake Huron, Ontario, an 11.8km in Skaha Lake, British Columbia, or the 36km Big Effort Swim at Christina Lake, British Columbia, each swim I complete is a step closer to proving that this record is within reach.
But this journey is about more than just breaking a record. I’m swimming for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, and I have a goal to raise $100 for every kilometre I swim. I want to give back to the organization that has helped many stroke survivors and show that we can keep moving forward no matter what challenges we face.
Making Waves for a Cause
This swim will be one of the longest-documented open-water swims in history, and I won’t be doing it alone. An incredible support crew will follow me in boats and kayaks, keeping me safe, fed, and motivated. The event will be live-streamed worldwide so people everywhere can follow along and be part of this journey.
If you want to support me—whether as a sponsor, a donor, or simply by spreading the word—I invite you to join me in this mission. Together, we can make a difference, inspire others, and prove that no challenge is too great to overcome.
You can follow my journey, donate, or become a sponsor here: www.robyncoleman.com.
This isn’t just my swim. This is for every survivor, every dreamer, and who refuses to let life’s challenges define them. Let’s make waves together.
That’s a heck of a long swim. You will rock it!
What a remarkable person! Your hard work and positive attitude will certainly carry you to success. Best of luck in your swim! You are quite the role model!