TEDxWaterloo - Vicki Keith - Marathon Swimming

Vicki Keith is the most successful marathon swimmer in the history of the sport, holding an unprecedented sixteen world records. Her most recognized accomplishments include becoming the first person to swim across all five Great Lakes in 1988 and for being the only person to complete the 104 km double crossing of Lake Ontario.
In 2005 Vicki spent 63 hours and 40 minutes in Lake Ontario, completing 80.2 kilometres butterfly, setting 2 world records and raising over $260,000 for the Kingston Family YMCA. This brought her lifetime fundraising total to over one million dollars.
After her marathon swimming career, Vicki began coaching competitive and marathon swimming to athletes with physical disabilities. Vicki has coached 15 athletes with a disability to the national level and two athletes to the international level in competitive swimming, 6 athletes to world records in marathon swimming, and an athlete with a disability to the podium in triathlon on the world stage.
In recognition of her outstanding achievements and service, Vicki has been appointed as a member of the Order of Canada, was inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame and had the headlands of the Leslie Street Spit in Toronto renamed to Vicki Keith Point.
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TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxWaterloo, where x=independently organized TED event. At our TEDxWaterloo event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group.
The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.

[@neevshriker9458]

Why doesnt this video have 100m views???? You made me cry 3 times that was so epic! You are a true inspiration!

[@DavidSinanan]

I saw you speak 3 times in person. Everyone thinks of the Olympians first when they think of the giants of swimming. But you're a giant in the industry. You're an inspiration.

[@GillEBean21]

She's a ROCKSTAR and an inspiration! It's a privilege seeing her coach her swimmers everyday. :)

[@123japanuser]

GOD BLESS !!! and thanks for putting for restoring perspective surrounding Phelps, Lochte and so on and so forth

[@kuladeeluxe]

Big Fan of Vicki's accomplishments. Great that she inspires others.

[@alt801]

Wow! Just wow! She is an amazing source of inspiration. Her message : NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE

[@nyelevett1697]

This is absolutely mind blowing 💪🏻

[@ArinaThomsen]

Her speech literary made me cry. What a fine person. I wish I had her as a friend and a coach.

[@Surroundx]

Vicki Keith swam continuously for 129 hours and 45 minutes in a pool. That's almost 5.5 days. Let that sink in.

[@Zeepo46]

What an incredible woman...simply superhero

[@AudiophileTubes]

What an awesome person she is!

[@marianamiami]

Good human being.. What a coach ?

[@derrickgriffines9050]

Fuckin* butterfly..80 km