Shields tends to `unfinished business'

Shields tends to `unfinished business'

and five-foot waves had to give up just five miles from shore. Last year's swim garnered media attention Marathon swimmer Colleen Shields com- and Shields wanted to make this one more pleted some unfinished business Sunday low-key and didn't want any advance publicimorning when she ended her successful cross- ty. She was originally planning on swimming ing of Lake Ontario at Marilyn Bell Park. At 6 p.m. Saturday the 54-year-old Friday night, but due to strong north winds Georgetown woman slipped into the water at and three to four foot waves she was forced to Niagara-on-the-Lake. About 16 and a half delay the swim until the next night. She said the water was "like glass" until hours later she finished the 32-mile crossing, about 11 p.m. Saturday, and then it earning the distinction of being the became quite choppy throughout oldest person to swim Lake Ontario. the night. "Yes I am the old lady of the lake "I wanted out in the middle of again," said an elated, but still stiff the night because I was sick and it Shields Monday morning. She said was rough. But I just took my food back in 1990 she was the oldest and went on with it." woman (at age 38) to swim across She said she got lucky with the the lake, and was happy to revive lake temperature because it never that title again this weekend. She went below 68 F. even managed to shave nearly an With sun-up came calmer waters hour-and-half off her previous time. and she said it "felt great" when Since that initial crossing Shields COLLEEN Marilyn Bell Park came into sight. felt she had "unfinished business" SHIELDS "I turned around to one of my because due to severe weather she friends (accompanying her in a wasn't able to end her swim at Marilyn Bell Park and instead had to finish at boat) about a mile out and said, `Wow is this really happening?'" Toronto's Leslie St. Spit. Friends and several dragon boat teams in "The real swim is from Niagara-on-theLake to Marilyn Bell Park (where in 1954 the the area were screaming and cheering as she 16-year-old swimmer who was the first to came ashore. With her business done, Shields says she is cross the lake finished)," said Shields, who reread Bell's book Friday as inspiration for her also done with marathon swimming, but swim. "I have achieved what I wanted to through her role with Solo Swims of Ontario she said she will be there to help any other achieve better than I ever thought I could." Shields and her friend Nicole Mallette of marathon swimmers with their crossings. Shields' swim was a fund-raiser for chilHamilton, both members of the Etobicoke Masters Aquatic Club, attempted to be the dren's charity Right to Play. At press-time she first tandem team to cross the lake last sum- had raised approximately $3,000, and was mer but had to abandon their dual attempt hoping more donations would come in. (Lisa Tallyn can be reached at after Mallette suffered a severe muscle spasm. ltallyn@independentfreepress.com) Shields continued on, but due to severe winds LISA TALLYN Staff Writer