Lac Leman

Vedika Bolliger finishing her non-wetsuit 42 hour 45 minute crossing of Lake Geneva in August 1999

Solo swim across Lake Geneva in August 1999

Lake Geneva offers the Ultimate Trophy Swim by the Lake Geneva Swimming Association, founded by Ben Barham

Alain Charmey training for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games and first person to cross Lake Geneva in 1986

Lac Léman or Lake Geneva or French: Le Léman sometimes Lac de Genève or German: Genfersee) is a lake in Switzerland and France. It is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe. 59.53% of it comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland (cantons of Vaud, Geneva, and Valais), and 40.47% under France (Haute-Savoie).

Open Water Swimming History

In an interesting historical discussion in the annals of the sport of open water swimming, Sid Cassidy of the USA, Dennis Miller of Fiji, and Christopher Guesdon of Australia initially discussed a proposed 10,000m format and qualification procedures for a future Olympic 10K Marathon Swim on the shores of Lake Geneva (lac Léman) in Évian-les-Bains after a FINA World Cup race in 1997. The proposed course and qualification procedures were eventually approved by the IOC in 2005 and the inaugural Olympic 10K Marathon Swim was held in a rowing basin at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Marathon Swims Across Lake Geneva

• It is site of the Ultimate Trophy Swim, a 70 km crossing of Lac Léman.
• It is the site of the 12 km LGSA Classic Swim from Lausanne to Évian-les-Bains, crossing the Swiss border into France.
• Gerad and Marie Claire escorted Kate Mason (Australia) and Julia Aston (Great Britain) in a 2-person relay 69 km across Lake Geneva under the auspices of the Lake Geneva Swimming Association in 28 hours 12 minutes 56 seconds together with observer Tim Davies. LGSA governs the Ultimate Trophy Swim, a 69 km crossing of Lake Geneva.
• American Jaimie Monahan became the first American woman to cross Lake Geneva on 26-27 August 2015 in 32 hours 52 minutes under the direction of the Lake Geneva Swimming Association's Ben Barham.
• Alain Charmey completed the first crossing of Lake Geneva in 22 hours 42 minutes 30 seconds in August 1986. Charmay, a then 34-year-old Swiss physical education teacher and swimming coach, completed an unprecedented crossing of Lake Geneva in Switzerland with Tony Ulrich as his coach. The former Swiss national swimming champion swam 44.7 miles (71.9 km) in 22 hours 42 minutes 30 seconds from Villeneuve, on the eastern end of the lake, to Geneva by a small flotilla with his support team.
• Vedika Bolliger of Switzerland was the first woman to swim across Lake Geneva in 1999 from Villeneuve to the Jetée des Pâquis in Geneva to join the 24-hour Club. Her escort pilots in the 42 hour 45 minute crossing included Gunthita Corda, Pradeepta Bürkisser and Kanti Göddertz in the 21°C water.
• Frequent Flyers completed a 69 km butterfly 6-person relay in 33 hours 34 minutes from Chateau de Chillon to Geneva on 13 July 2016.

70 km Ultimate Trophy Swim across Lake Geneva

• Deirdre Ward, Ireland, 39, from Chillon Castle to Bains des Pâquis on 4-5 September 2019 in 25 hours 45 minutes 2 seconds
• Helen Conway, Australia, 40, from Chillon Castle to Bains des Pâquis on 6-7 August 2017 in 25 hours 37 minutes 3 seconds
• Dr Nicholas Murch, UK, 37, from Chillon Castle to Bains des Pâquis on 29-30 September 2016 in 32 hours 46 minutes 33 seconds
• Mark Sheridan, UK, 42, from Chillon Castle to Bains des Pâquis on 18-19 July 2016 in 33 hours 6 minutes 51 seconds
• Jaimie Monahan, USA, 37, from Bains des Pâquis to Chillon Castle on 31 August-1 September 2016 in 28 hours 36 minutes 0 seconds
• Jaimie Monahan, USA, 36, from Chillon Castle to Bains des Pâquis on 26-27 August 2015 in 32 hours 52 minutes 14 seconds
• Vedika Bolliger, Switzerland, 34, from Villeneuve to Bains des Pâquis on 30-31 July 1999 in 42 hours 45 minutes 0 seconds
• Alain Charmey, Switzerland, 34, from Villeneuve to Bains des Pâquis on 5-6 August 1986 in 22 hours 43 minutes 30 seconds

External links

• Jennifer Dutton Becomes a Swimming Legend of Lake Geneva
• Rachel Doyle Honored By The Ireland Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
• Sir John Royden Raising Money And Hopes
• Bucket Lists Of Ice Swimming
• Swimming In The Milky Clear
• Lake Geneva Swimming Association
• The Ultimate Trophy Swim In Lake Geneva
• Swimming Across A UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Get Wet, Stay Wet
• Why? Why Not?
• 30 Most Influential People in Swimming + 3
• Alain Charmey Award Announced
• /Jaimie Monahan Award Announced
• Vedika Bolliger, Marathoner Extraordinaire
• Satisfaction Guaranteed
• Mark Sheridan Successfully Crosses Lake Geneva
• What Is A Goggle Tan?
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• Open Water Swimming
• Frequent Flyers Finish Freestyle
• Jaimie Monahan, Marathoning Around The World
• Half And Half In Switzerland
• #BackTheSwim In West Papua
• Mark Sheridan Awarded Diamond Jubilee Special Award
• Lake Geneva Swimming Association List of Legends
• Daily News of Open Water Swimming
• Martyn Webster Wins LGSA Classic Swim
• Jaimie Monahan Honored By The Hall Of Fame
• Cross-bo rder Classic 12
• Monahan Around The Open Water World In 16 Days
• Martyn Webster Is Barraesque, Wins The Barra Award
• Sue Guesdon Doubly Honored By Two Halls Of Fame
• Mark Sheridan, Spectacular Swimming And Serving In The Open Water