Olympian becomes 1st woman to finish swim to Block Island

(Image credit: Francois Xavier Marit/AFP via Getty Images)

published 28 September 2021

Swimmer Elizabeth Beisel honored her father by making a dream they shared come true.

Beisel, a three-time Olympian, made history on Saturday when she became the first woman to swim from mainland Rhode Island to Block Island. The 29-year-old completed the 10.4-mile swim in 5 hours and 19 minutes, and told People the feat left her feeling "humbled and honored."

This wasn't just a historic accomplishment — it was also a fundraiser for Swim Across America, a nonprofit that raises money and awareness for cancer research, prevention, and treatment. Beisel came up with the idea for a charity swim after her dad, Ted, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December. A Rhode Island native, Beisel said it had always been one of her goals to tackle the swim to Block Island, and knowing she was going to try it "helped sustain" her dad before he died in July.

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

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