Cliff Lumsdon facts for kids

Clifford Douglas "Cliff" Lumsdon Jr. (born April 13, 1931 – died August 31, 1991) was a super talented Canadian marathon swimmer. He was known for swimming really long distances in open water, like lakes and oceans! Cliff was so good that he became a world champion. He also received special honors, like being a Member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario, which are big awards for Canadians who do amazing things.

Cliff Lumsdon: A Swimming Star

Cliff Lumsdon grew up in New Toronto. He learned to swim and train at the Lakeshore Swimming Club, where his coach was Gus Ryder. Cliff started swimming professionally when he was just 16 years old. He once said his only regret was not being able to compete in the 1948 Summer Olympics because he had become a professional athlete.

Becoming a World Champion

In 1949, when Cliff was only 18, he won the world marathon championship in Toronto. This was a huge race, 15 miles long, held at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE). He beat 46 other swimmers! For winning, he earned a lot of money, which was a big deal back then. Because of this amazing victory, Cliff was given the Lou Marsh Trophy, which is awarded to Canada's top athlete of the year.

More Incredible Victories

Cliff Lumsdon didn't stop there! He won four more marathon races at the CNE. One of his most famous wins was in 1955. He swam an incredible 32-mile race along the Lake Ontario waterfront. Out of 29 swimmers who started, Cliff was the only one to finish the entire course! No other swimmer even made it halfway. During part of this race, his fiancée and fellow swimmer Marilyn Bell cheered him on from a boat. Cliff won a huge prize for this victory.

After finishing second in a couple of earlier races, Cliff finally won the tough 26-mile Atlantic City marathon in 1956. Later that same year, on August 17, he became only the second person ever to swim across the Strait of Juan de Fuca in British Columbia. Cliff decided to retire from swimming in 1965, after earning a lot of money from his amazing career.

Life After Competitive Swimming

After retiring from professional swimming, Cliff continued to be involved in the sport. He even coached his daughter, Kim Lumsdon, who also became a top marathon swimmer. He was with her when she swam across Lake Ontario in 1976.

Honored for His Achievements

Cliff Lumsdon's incredible achievements were recognized many times:

• In 1976, he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
• In 1982, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada, a very high honor.
• In 1986, he joined the Etobicoke Hall of Fame.
• In March 1988, a park in Toronto was named Cliff Lumsdon Park in his honor.
• In 2009, he was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.

Cliff Lumsdon passed away in 1991 when he was 60 years old, leaving behind a legacy as one of Canada's greatest marathon swimmers. It's interesting to know that throughout his career, his last name was often misspelled as Lumsden instead of Lumsdon!