Gaffney swims Tahoe in six hours
September 25th, 2007
Phil Summers and Bill Gaffney hold Karen Gaffney’s hands.
as she takes her first steps on the shore. Sierra Sun photo.
From the Sierra Sun and KCRA TV in Sacramento.
Karen Gaffney, 29, swam the lake’s 9-mile width in 6 hours and 13 minutes, stepping out at Sugar Pine Point. The water temperature for her swim was 59 degrees.
“I really hit a home run on the swim,” she said. “I really made a lot of people proud.” Gaffney said she hoped her accomplishment could inspire others and raise awareness about what people with Down syndrome can do.
Here’s an earlier report from KOLO 8 in Reno that features interview footage with Gaffney, who was the first person with Down syndrome to swim the English Channel as part of a relay team.
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September 25th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
This brings tears to my eyes! What an amazing accomplishment. Way to go Karen! My nephew, who also has Down syndrome, swims like a fish. I hope that this story will inspire him to take on even bigger goals than he has accomplished thus far. I cannot even imagine myself swimming 9 miles. You made me proud, Karen. Keep on going!