Discouraged In The Fog

Florence May Chadwick was a swimmer born in 1918, at age ten she began competing in swimming events, at age 11 she had her first rough water competition and placed 4th. At the age of 32 she swam the English Channel from England to France, a distance of 21 miles, setting a new world record by a woman. A year later she crossed again making her the first woman to swim the channel both directions setting yet another world record. Florence's first attempt to swim the channel lasted 13 hours 20 mins breaking the record set by American Gertrude Ederle; the second swim was made in 16 hours 22 mins.

In 1952 Florence May Chadwick was determined to swim the 26 miles between Catalina Island and the California coastline. She began the swim surrounded by small boats to keep an eye on her safety and to help her in case she need to be pulled out of the water due to exhaustion or injury. After about 15 hours in the water a thick fog set in so that Florence was unable to see anything in front of her. Florence's mother, and her trainer, in a nearby boat offered encouragement telling her that it was not much further; but all that Florence could see was the very thick fog. With only a half mile to go for the first time, Florence quit; it was not the fatigue or the cold it was the discouragement of not being able to see her goal. In spite of the encouragement that others offered she was not able to see the coastline and gave up hope.

Two months later she attempted the swim from Catalina Island to the California coastline for the second time. This time despite the same thick fog she accomplished the swim; this time she swam with the goal clearly pictured in her mind becoming the first woman to swim the Catalina Channel.

The message is to have a clear goal in your mind and never to quit.
Florence Chadwick

It's always to early to quit.
Norman Vincent Peale

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
The Bible (Proverbs 13:12) 


Even when there is not single shred of evidence for proof, keep moving forward.
Me...Mr. Toad