Story: Open water swimming

Swimming Lake Taupō

Swimming Lake Taupō

On 30 January 1955 Margaret Sweeney became the first person to swim across Lake Taupō. Here, she is helped from the water after completing the swim. Although the swimmer does not have tides to contend with, at over 40 kilometres this course is longer than either Cook or Foveaux straits.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Ina Robinson Collection
Reference: PAColl-3674-2

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Nancy Swarbrick, 'Open water swimming - Major marathon courses', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/6911/swimming-lake-taupo (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 12 Jun 2006, updated 1 Feb 2016