A Scottish swimmer has set a new record time for completing the 73.2km length of Lake Geneva. Caroline Connor swam an impressive fastest time (in a wetsuit) for both men and women of 25 hours and 25 minutes. She is only the 15th person to complete the feat of swimming the length of the lake, which is located on the northern side of the Alps between Switzerland and France.
The 51-year-old from Peebles says: “I am very proud of myself. I didn’t know if I would be able to swim this distance and it hasn’t sunk in yet that I have done it.”
Why a Lake Geneva swim?
The Lake Geneva swim, journeying east to west from Villeneuve to Bains des Pâquis, is Caroline’s longest swim by some 30km.
Previously she has swum the English Channel, set an FKT on the Mighty 3 in the Lake District and swum Loch Lomond End to End.
For her latest challenge, from Aug 6 to 7, 2024, she was keen to complete another A to B swim.
Caroline, who is a receptionist at Peebles High School, says: “People suggested I might try a two-way English Channel swim or Loch Ness there and back but I had already completed these one way and I wanted to do something new.
“I like an A to B swim and so I chose Lake Geneva because it would be the longest swim I had ever done – if I completed it.
“But I really didn’t know if it would be possible. I just thought I would give it a try.”
Training for the Lake Geneva swim
Caroline, who is coached by Kathy Batts, Kevin Murphy and Ian Muir, trains both indoors and outdoors. She says: “I did intensive training for this swim. I swam twice each day in a pool, usually 7km and 3km.
“At weekends I swim in St Mary’s Loch, usually both Saturday and Sunday. I built up the distances and I swam in all types of weather and in winter, too. In fact, this summer’s weather in Scotland has been horrific.
“I think that all this training in different conditions and in cold water, too, has been key to my success in the Lake Geneva swim.”
Highs and lows of Lake Geneva record swim
Caroline reveals that the hardest part of the Lake Geneva swim was the first 1.5 hours. She says: “I was in such a dark place with all kinds of negative thoughts. I was questioning why I thought I had the right to imagine I could do this crazy swim. I felt like I didn’t have the right to be doing something that ‘iconic’ swimmers have done.
“But I just kept going and after my second feed I felt a lot better. From about seven hours into the swim, I knew I would finish.”
Another challenge was the heat. Caroline chose to swim in a wetsuit “because I always swim in a wetsuit”. However, the air and water temperature made conditions very warm.
Caroline says: “In the hottest part of the day from about noon til 2pm, I was uncomfortably hot. The water was about 24C and the air temperature was 35C at times.
“It did get cooler late on and I was grateful for that. I just had to talk myself through feeling too hot.”
Towards the end of the swim a storm blew through the area. Caroline says: “A sudden spell of biblical rain, thunder and lightning with about three hours to go really spurred me on. There was no way was I going to let anyone get me out the water so I put my head down and sprinted off. Luckily, the rain only lasted 10 minutes so I was able to relax a bit more after that.
“Most of the day was absolutely perfect though. One of my coaches had told me to look around while I was swimming and I wouldn’t normally do this in training but I took this advice and the setting was so beautiful.
“I really enjoyed the conditions for most of the swim as well.”
Caroline describes the excitement of coming close to the finish. She says: “At the end I could just see Grahame’s green hoodie on the shore and I was so excited about finishing. Then, I could then see stones below me and I knew I could stop and stand up.
“I actually did a wee jog out of the water straight to my husband Grahame with dozens and dozens of local people cheering and clapping all around me. I will never forget the experience.”
Support for Lake Geneva swim
Caroline is grateful for the support of Grahame and also for the support crew during the Lake Geneva swim. She says: “Grahame is always there for me when I am doing my training swims. He is always encouraging me on.
“I also had an amazing crew for the Lake Geneva swim, including Jo Whiting, Ewa Plauszta Caliani and Ian Muir.
“In addition, I had a boat pilot Eric Dupont, who is passionate about all aspects of swimming Lake Geneva and his boat, Freesteel.
“My crew kept me safe and entertained throughout the duration of the swim. We communicated really well with each other and the encouragement and messages they passed on were very welcomed.”
- Caroline has raised more than £4750 for Peebles High school Sunflower classroom for additional resources and PHS resilience & mental health support for our young people.