Marathon Swim Stories
Have you ever stood at the edge of a body of water and wondered what it would be like to swim to the other side? Stories from The Water is where we connect with curious and courageous individuals from all walks of life—some who took their first strokes as toddlers, others who discovered their passion midlife.
Through their stories, we explore our deep connection with water—what draws us in, what holds us back, and what keeps us going. Whether you're a seasoned swimmer, aspiring, or just intrigued by the water’s pull, these stories reveal powerful lessons about resilience, fear, and the pursuit of something greater—both in the water and in life.
Marathon Swim Stories
Michelle Macy's Marathon Swim Story
In this episode of Marathon Swim Stories, I chat with Michelle Macy about being your authentic self, not finishing what you set out to do, losing the joy, granny swimming, and so much more!
From macyswim.com: My parents have always told me that I could swim long before I could walk. I would terrify the lifeguards by launching myself from the diving board at the age of 2 and swimming underwater to the wall. It wasn’t too long after this that my parents enrolled me into USA Swimming. From there the rest you can say is history. I spent much of my childhood chasing the black line on the bottom of the pool. This drive and competition lasted through college.
After college, I thought it was necessary to find out what life had to offer away from the 8 pool lanes and the chlorinated water. I explored the world and moved to many new places. Upon my move to Oregon, I needed a way to meet new people. I again returned to the pool and met fellow water enthusiasts. It was like coming back home.
Not long after returning to the pool, I was in a training class and the question was posed to me. “If you had all the time in the world, what would you do?” My post-it note quickly was filled with “I’d swim the English Channel”. Now I thought this was some joke. It was as if my subconscious had taken over and written this goal down before I had a chance to argue.
Well, there it was and thus my marathon swimming career began. From my first tentative strokes in cold open water, I knew I was hooked. I had found my passion. I did successfully complete the English Channel for the first time in September 2007 and was the fastest American for the Channel Swimming Association in a time of 10 hours and 2 minutes.
I also began to learn that through my swimming I could help the lives of others. I set a goal to raise $50,000 for Breast Cancer Research through my swimming. (Donations are always welcomed.) Three years later and I’ve reached the halfway point and just like in my swimming I intend to put one arm in front of the other until my swimming dreams and fundraising goals are fulfilled.
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Music credit:
Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5447-epic-inspiration-
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer, Todd Lantry.
