Colleen Shields

Shields to attempt lake crossing tonight Friday July 25 2008 Colleen Shields
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Colleen Shields, 56, expects to become the oldest woman again to swim across Lake Ontario and hopes to break the existing female record of 15 hours and 10 minutes.Shields, a travel consultant in Mississauga, is watching the erratic weather this week and keeping her fingers crossed that it will not delay her anticipated departure from Queens Royal Park in Niagara-on-the-Lake.If all goes as scheduled, she will step into the water around 7 p.m. tonight (Friday) and emerge around 10 a.m. Saturday at Toronto's Marilyn Bell Park. This will be her third crossing of Lake Ontario.In 1990, Shields went the 53-kilometre (32-mile) distance in 17 hours and 56 minutes.Two summers ago, she bested herself by making it in 16 hours and 31 minutes.A member of the Etobicoke Olympium Masters Aquatic Club, Shields has also conquered the chilly waters between Tobermory and Manitoulin and acted as swim master for at least eight long distance solo swimmers on Lake Ontario.She was one of 12 swimmers to participate in the 2004 relay across the lake to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Marilyn Bell's 1954 crossing.Shields has been training with Etobicoke Masters Coach Brent Aquino and credits him with preparing her physically and mentally for the swim.

Shields to attempt lake crossing tonight Shields to attempt lake crossing tonight Friday July 25 2008

A Georgetown woman is planning to make history twice this weekend.Colleen Shields, 56, expects to become the oldest woman again to swim across Lake Ontario and hopes to break the existing female record of 15 hours and 10 minutes.Shields, a travel consultant in Mississauga, is watching the erratic weather this week and keeping her fingers crossed that it will not delay her anticipated departure from Queens Royal Park in Niagara-on-the-Lake.If all goes as scheduled, she will step into the water around 7 p.m. tonight (Friday) and emerge around 10 a.m. Saturday at Toronto's Marilyn Bell Park. This will be her third crossing of Lake Ontario.In 1990, Shields went the 53-kilometre (32-mile) distance in 17 hours and 56 minutes.Two summers ago, she bested herself by making it in 16 hours and 31 minutes.A member of the Etobicoke Olympium Masters Aquatic Club, Shields has also conquered the chilly waters between Tobermory and Manitoulin and acted as swim master for at least eight long distance solo swimmers on Lake Ontario.She was one of 12 swimmers to participate in the 2004 relay across the lake to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Marilyn Bell's 1954 crossing.Shields has been training with Etobicoke Masters Coach Brent Aquino and credits him with preparing her physically and mentally for the swim.

Shields aborts swim Shields aborts swim

A Georgetown woman hoping to become the oldest woman to swim across Lake Ontario was forced to abandon her attempt Friday because of poor weather.Colleen Shields, 56, was attempting to make her third crossing of Lake Ontario but had to abort the swim at 11:15 p.m.- about five hours after she entered the water at Niagara-on-the-Lake.Shields may make another attempt August 8. In 1990, Shields went the 53-kilometre (32-mile) distance in 17 hours and 56 minutes.Two summers ago, she bested herself by making it in 16 hours and 31 minutes.A member of the Etobicoke Olympium Masters Aquatic Club, Shields has also conquered the chilly waters between Tobermory and Manitoulin and acted as swim master for at least eight long distance solo swimmers on Lake Ontario.She was one of 12 swimmers to participate in the 2004 relay across the lake to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Marilyn Bell's 1954 crossing.Shields has been training with Etobicoke Masters Coach Brent Aquino and credits him with preparing her physically and mentally for the swim.

Shields aborts swim print this articlePrint this articleemail this articleEmail this article A Georgetown woman hoping to become the oldest woman to swim across Lake Ontario was forced to abandon her attempt Friday because of poor weather.Colleen Shields, 56, was attempting to make her third crossing of Lake Ontario but had to abort the swim at 11:15 p.m.- about five hours after she entered the water at Niagara-on-the-Lake.Shields may make another attempt August 8. In 1990, Shields went the 53-kilometre (32-mile) distance in 17 hours and 56 minutes.Two summers ago, she bested herself by making it in 16 hours and 31 minutes.A member of the Etobicoke Olympium Masters Aquatic Club, Shields has also conquered the chilly waters between Tobermory and Manitoulin and acted as swim master for at least eight long distance solo swimmers on Lake Ontario.She was one of 12 swimmers to participate in the 2004 relay across the lake to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Marilyn Bell's 1954 crossing.Shields has been training with Etobicoke Masters Coach Brent Aquino and credits him with preparing her physically and mentally for the swim.

Colleen Shields in lane 3 President (also Communications)

240 Mixed 200 medley: 2:47.03 - Dieter Teschner, Yvonne Cattrall, Brian Sheridan, Colleen Shields
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240 Mixed 400 medley: 6:23.64 - Colleen Shields, Yvonne Cattrall, Brian Sheridan, Charlie Lane
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Past President- Colleen Shields
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3K: Women 55-59, Colleen Shields - Gold; Men 40-44, Ibrahim Attieh - Gold.

Relying on Irish superstition and months of cross training, Colleen Shields, 54, of the Etobicoke Olympium Masters Aquatic Club (EOMAC) completed the 52-kilometre-long crossing of Lake Ontario in 16 hours 30 minutes on August 12 and 13.

Relying on Irish superstition and months of cross training, Colleen Shields, 54, of the Etobicoke Olympium Masters Aquatic Club (EOMAC) completed the 52-kilometre-long crossing of Lake Ontario in 16 hours 30 minutes on August 12 and 13.

Almost there - Colleen Shields and her support crew enter the break wall at Marilyn Bell Park on the shores of Lake Ontario.
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Shields remains convinced that showing the lake proper respect was a key element in her success.She thinks it may be "Irish superstition," but a late friend once told her "you need to become one with the lake."It's not that the swimmer crosses; "the lake lets you cross her.You need to ask permission to come across."

The Lake Ontario swim holds a particular interest in the echelon of open water swims in Canada. For Shields, her previous swim was not really official in her heart.
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Shields was one of 12 swimmers on a commemorative relay.When Shields exited at Bell's Park, she knew she had "some unfinished business here," she says.
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A former National team member from 1968-69, Shields swam with the Hamilton Aquatic Club.She went to Switzerland to finish Grade 13, developed other interests and stopped swimming for about 16 years.
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Over the years, Shields developed shoulder problems.She has had surgery on both shoulders.When she began focusing her attention on crossing Lake Ontario this summer, she spent the winter working on her body's weak spots, including core and triceps strength.
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For more information, or to donate to Colleen Shields' swim, follow the links at: www.righttoplay.com

Relying on Irish superstition and months of cross training, Colleen Shields, 54, of the Etobicoke Olympium Masters Aquatic Club (EOMAC) completed the 52-kilometre-long crossing of Lake Ontario in 16 hours 30 minutes on August 12 and 13.

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