The Rivard Sisters

Dear Fellow Vermonter,

Can you imagine swimming 20.5 miles to cross the English Channel, 20 miles to cross the Catalina Channel just off the coast of California, and the 28.5 miles it takes to swim around the entirety of Manhattan in New York City?

Called the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, this remarkable feat is not just about swimming a combined total of nearly 70 miles – an incredible achievement in itself. It is also about doing battle with cold waters, dangerous currents, stinging jellyfish, buffeting winds, and bad visibility – not to mention exhaustion, fear, and self-doubt.

Only a few hundred swimmers can claim the honor of the Triple Crown and two of the youngest EVER are the Rivard sisters from Derby, Vermont.

Vera Rivard joined the Triple Crown club at just 17-years-old and her younger sister Margaret was not far behind. Today Margaret remains the youngest person on record to achieve the Triple Crown, completing the swim when she was just 16.

And it is not just the Triple Crown. These talented open water swimmers have swum Lake Memphremagog, Caspian Lake, competed in the Kingdom Games up in Newport, braved the Ice Mile, and more. The Bernie Buzz caught up with the Rivard sisters to learn more and hear what open water swimming means to them.

I hope you’ll take a moment to watch the video above and hear their story.

Sincerely,

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