By any standard, the ability to swim thirty-two Kilometers, in waves as high as six feet and winds blowing as hard as twenty-six Kilometers per hour would be considered to be a miraculous accomplishment.
But imagine attempting such a swim without the use of your legs. On July 18th and 19th, 2006, 15 year old, Harrowsmith native Jenna Lambert did just that. She commenced her swim at Baird Point New York and arrived thirty-two hours later at Lake Ontario Park in Kingston Ontario, to the cheers of hundreds of supporters. Lambert’s swim puts her in the record books as the first female with a physical disability to swim across Lake Ontario.
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at a year and a half, Lambert walks with the aid of crutches and has had numerous surgeries to help with mobility. Like many determined people with disabilities however, she compensates for her limitations by demonstrating extraordinary strength in other areas. One arena where Jenna Lambert proves her strength literally, is in the water.
In May 2006 Lambert did a twelve hour pool swim that convinced her that she could do the Lake Ontario crossing. In July 2006 she covered ten kilometers in five hours.
Lambert’s coach and friend, marathon swimmer Vicki Keith, puts her protégés resilience into perspective, saying. “She has to make adjustments in her strokes in order to compensate for the lack of mobility in her legs. She has to over rotate her body, so she is working much harder, but she doesn’t know anything different, that is how she swims.”
Lambert faced additional challenges in the waters of Lake Ontario. It was against the rules to lean against anything during her swim. She had to tread water with one hand and consume granola pieces, fruit cups and boost drinks with the other.
At times when high winds and waves were against her and her arms barely came out of the water, she was inspired by her sister Natalie who swam beside her for two hours.
Waves and wind were so bad at times that attempts were made to redirect the swim to make it shorter. But Lambert wouldn’t have it. She approached the shores of Lake Ontario doing the butterfly stroke, showing supporters that she still had something left.
But imagine attempting such a swim without the use of your legs. On July 18th and 19th, 2006, 15 year old, Harrowsmith native Jenna Lambert did just that. She commenced her swim at Baird Point New York and arrived thirty-two hours later at Lake Ontario Park in Kingston Ontario, to the cheers of hundreds of supporters. Lambert’s swim puts her in the record books as the first female with a physical disability to swim across Lake Ontario.
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at a year and a half, Lambert walks with the aid of crutches and has had numerous surgeries to help with mobility. Like many determined people with disabilities however, she compensates for her limitations by demonstrating extraordinary strength in other areas. One arena where Jenna Lambert proves her strength literally, is in the water.
In May 2006 Lambert did a twelve hour pool swim that convinced her that she could do the Lake Ontario crossing. In July 2006 she covered ten kilometers in five hours.
Lambert’s coach and friend, marathon swimmer Vicki Keith, puts her protégés resilience into perspective, saying. “She has to make adjustments in her strokes in order to compensate for the lack of mobility in her legs. She has to over rotate her body, so she is working much harder, but she doesn’t know anything different, that is how she swims.”
Lambert faced additional challenges in the waters of Lake Ontario. It was against the rules to lean against anything during her swim. She had to tread water with one hand and consume granola pieces, fruit cups and boost drinks with the other.
At times when high winds and waves were against her and her arms barely came out of the water, she was inspired by her sister Natalie who swam beside her for two hours.
Waves and wind were so bad at times that attempts were made to redirect the swim to make it shorter. But Lambert wouldn’t have it. She approached the shores of Lake Ontario doing the butterfly stroke, showing supporters that she still had something left.
Jenna’s swim however was not about breaking records, but raising money for a new pool for “the Penguins,” Jenna and Natalie’s swim team at the Kingston YMCA, comprised of young people with disabilities and their siblings.
When asked on the TV show 100 Huntley Street what gave her the strength to do her marathon swim, Jenna a professing Christian said, “God has been amazing, God’s strength is what got me through the marathon. He conquered the cross!!!
Jenna Lambert is a living embodiment of Philippians 4:13: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (NIV)
Contributing Writer: Terry Harris
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