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CANCanadaSport:SwimmingMarilyn Bell was born in Toronto on 19 October 1937 and became one of Canada’s best-known endurance swimmers while still at school. Her coach, Gus Ryder, recognised her capacity to keep swimming over long distances. Winning an amateur mile race at the Canadian National Exhibition in 1952 helped her progress towards the demanding professional events that soon defined her career.
In 1954 she competed at Atlantic City before becoming the first person to swim across Lake Ontario. Her arrival in Toronto after a long swim from the American shore brought enormous public attention. She had entered without the financial offer made to Florence Chadwick, but her successful crossing earned recognition and a prize from the exhibition organisers.
On 31 July 1955 Bell reached the Warren at Folkestone after swimming from Cap Gris-Nez in 14 hours and 36 minutes. At seventeen she became the youngest successful Channel swimmer of that time. Ryder accompanied her and experienced Channel pilot Jack Burwill guided the crossing.
Bell completed the Strait of Juan de Fuca in 1956 and then retired from professional swimming. Her honours include Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and the Order of Ontario. She is also known by her married name, Marilyn Bell Di Lascio.
Youngest Channel swimmer at the time · 31 July 1955
Also recorded as Marilyn Bell Di Lascio.
Crossing details, recordings & verificationSolo swim
Sunday, 31 July 1955 (completion)
France → England
Elapsed time · 14h 36m
Start clock · Clock time not confirmed
Finish clock · Clock time not confirmed
Ratifying body's record checked · See the crossing record for qualifications and supporting evidence.
Open-water swimming · Solo swim
Wednesday, 8 September 1954 – Thursday, 9 September 1954
Youngstown, New York → Toronto, Ontario
Completed Youngstown → Toronto; first person across the lake. Published durations differ: SSO 20h55m; ISHOF 20h59m.
Published distance · 51.5 km planned route
Sources disagree · Details and qualifications are in the career evidence.
Open-water swimming · Solo swim
Thursday, 23 August 1956 (event date)
Port Angeles, Washington → Clover Point, Victoria
Completed her second attempt across the strait.
Elapsed time · 11h 35m
Published distance · 18.3 miles
Historical account checked · Details and qualifications are in the career evidence.
1952
Canadian National Exhibition amateur mile.
1954
First person to complete the crossing.
31 July 1955
Successful France-to-England swim.
1956
Crossed the strait; retired from professional swimming.
1958
Inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
2003
Honoured for her achievements.
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First recorded finish
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Selected swimming performances appear in the English Channel record above.
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