July 20, 2006

Teen with cerebral palsy completes marathon swim : 15-year-old Jenna Lambert of Kingston, Ontario, an athlete in ultra-marathoner Vicki Keith's swimming program, swam 32km across Lake Ontario yesterday. Oh yeah, because of her CP, she did it without the use of her legs.

read story | posted by smithers to Extreme at 10:59 AM CDT (22 comments total)

ps#1: I only used "Extreme" as the category because this was extremely damned impressive and thre was no "Swimming" category.
ps#2: I swam for Vicki for a year when I was around 11 years old.

posted by smithers at 11:01 AM CDT on July 20

Great feel-good story that I would have probably missed if you hadn't posted it Smithers. Thanks!

posted by jerseygirl at 11:04 AM CDT on July 20

Great story, smithers. Would you have any info on where a person could send a donation? This girl gives hope for the future.

posted by steelergirl at 12:02 PM CDT on July 20

Gretat story. How come there are no feel good pieces at the end of regular broadcasts? Somebody call ABC World news tonite. She definetly fits the person of the week catagory.

posted by volfire at 1:28 PM CDT on July 20

Very cool. Brings a tear to the eye. I can hardly swim across my bathtub. You don't hear enough about this kind of person, it's always Barry Bonds bitching or Mike Tyson biting or T.O. misquoting himself in his own book(what's up with that?)etc... Thank goodness for little heroes such as this young lady.

posted by GoBirds at 2:01 PM CDT on July 20

Vicki Keith strikes again! What a jewel in our nation's sporting crown. Not only satisfied to set 16 world records and essentially be one of the (or just plain 'the') greatest marathon swimmers in the world, she now trains disabled athletes to achievements like this.

Way to go Jenna, way to go Vicki. Fucking A.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 2:16 PM CDT on July 20

WOW! That's all I can say. WOW!

posted by Spitztengle at 3:25 PM CDT on July 20

Wow. I can't believe none of the comments have slammed this posting as a bunch of feel good fluff...but I'm glad of it! Vicki appears to be a woman with a mission, and I get the feeling that Jenna may not be far behind. This world needs every positive influence we can get. Utterly impressive!

posted by ctal1999 at 3:28 PM CDT on July 20

Totaly Wow!
Here is more info on her and where to donate

posted by 2bnamedl8r at 3:41 PM CDT on July 20

Wow. I can't believe none of the comments have slammed this posting as a bunch of feel good fluff

She' s not a horse. And so, therefore, she can feel all those way-to-gos.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 4:15 PM CDT on July 20

People like Jenna inspire because you feel like a doofus when you even think of feeling sorry for yourself.

posted by sickleguy at 4:46 PM CDT on July 20

Yep, it kinda puts missin' that tee time into proper perspective, don't it sickleguy? Her accomplishments are truly inspiring.

posted by mjkredliner at 5:14 PM CDT on July 20

YOU MISSED A TEE TIME??!?!

Oh, the humanity...

posted by lil_brown_bat at 5:46 PM CDT on July 20

That is abolutely insane. Stories like this make me realize what a total pussy I am. That girl kicks ass.

posted by Samsonov14 at 5:56 PM CDT on July 20

Thanks jerseygirl and steelergirl....I'll have my goodness on a cone. ;)

posted by smithers at 6:03 PM CDT on July 20

WELL DONE, JENNA!!!

Bush should be doing photo ops with real winners like this young lady, but then again, how could HE relate to HER conquests?

posted by wolfdad at 9:26 PM CDT on July 20

WELL DONE, JENNA!!!

Bush should be doing photo ops with real winners like this young lady, but then again, how could HE relate to HER conquests? But why would Bush do a photo op. with a Canadian? Ya never know, she could be a terrorist! Hmmmm, I wonder, could cerebral palsy be cured with more stem cell research? Never mind, I'm WAAAAY off topic. Way to go Jenna.

posted by tommytrump at 9:45 PM CDT on July 20

It is very moving and inspirational. Its good to see that people are still doing amazing things in this day and age despite Bush idiotic reign... Jenna has more guts than Bush at this point.

posted by Peruvianforce at 9:26 AM CDT on July 21

Awesome..another ktowner does a great thing,vicky,simon now jenna...of course this means don cherry will be yakkin about it on hockey night in canada..and great news for those with CP,that even they can accomplish great things...way to go jenna !!!

posted by ktown at 10:15 AM CDT on July 21

The girl was in a lake straining to keep her head above water, without use of her legs, for 32 hours. 32 straight HOURS! I don't want to do anything that feels GOOD for 32 hours.

Congrats to that brave young girl, and to smithers for pulling out this jem. Thanks.

posted by BullpenPro at 10:28 AM CDT on July 21

Yep, what BPP said.

posted by ctal1999 at 10:32 PM CDT on July 21

Vicki Keith strikes again!

Side note: she used to live in my neighbourhood when I was a kid, and my parents told me she was the most unassuming celebrity they had ever met.

Unfortunately, she moved away a couple of years ago and her house was torn down to build some "awful monstrosity", as my parents call it.

posted by grum@work at 1:10 AM CDT on July 22

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