Super Swimmer

Vicki Keith swam the Strait of Juan de Fuca on August 10th, 1989. She is the first person to swim the 30 kilometer strait using the butterfly stroke.

She left Port Angeles, Washington at 2 in the morning. She arrived in Victoria 14 hours later. She was very cold and tired. The temperature of the water was about 10 degrees Celsius during her swim.

She swam the strait to raisemoney for disabled children. Vicki's many swimming records. Here are some of her records. First person to swim all five Great Lakes.

First person to swim across the English Channel using the butterfly stroke.

First to finish a double crossing of Lake Ontario.

Holder of the distance record for butterfly stroke, 38 kilometers.

Background Information

Do you like to swim? Do you know someone who swims a lot? How physically fit do you need to be to swim long distances? Also talk about sports heros in our society. Are many of them good role models?

Questions

1. When did Vicki Keith swim the strait of Juan de Fuca?

2. What is the butterfly stroke?

3. What time did she leave Port Angeles?

4. Why do you think she was cold?

5. What other way do we have to measure temperature besides Celsius?

6. What is a strait?

7. What are the names of the Great Lakes?

8. What does the word record mean in this story?

9. Why did she swim the strait?

10. Do you think it's dangerous to swim such long distances? Why?