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Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID |
2013.55.10 B |
Object Name |
Video Recording |
Title |
Marilyn Bell Interview |
Interview Summary / Résumé d'entrevue |
Marilyn Bell, Order of Sport recipient, inducted in 1958, born in Toronto, Ontario, talks about her marathon swimming career. Marilyn explains how Winnie Roach-Leuszler helped her swim her first mile at the CNE exhibition swim, where she met her coach, Gus Ryder. Marilyn describes Winnie Roach and Cliff Lumsden as her mentors. Marilyn discusses how she trained at Port Credit with the Lakeshore Swim Club. Marilyn describes in detail the 1954 swim across Lake Ontario, which was the first time she swam in the nighttime. Marilyn also talks about her swim across the English Channel and the Juan de Fuca Strait and the challenges with both. Marilyn describes eating corn syrup with pablum from the feeding stick during her swims. Marilyn talks about how she grew up a shy and private person, the struggle with becoming a media star, and how Barbara Ann Scott was a role model. Marilyn also talks about the trust and respect she had for Gus Ryder. Marilyn also discusses the importance of positive thinking, technological changes to the sport, and the importance of sport for youth. She shows her feeding sticks, swimsuit, and goggles to the camera. Entrevue avec Marilyn Bell, 26 et 27 juillet 2008. MP4 numérisé à partir d'une DVCAM 40 Advanced ME de Sony. Temps de visionnement : 01:39:56. Marilyn Bell, récipiendaire de l'Ordre du sport, a été intronisée en 1958 et est née à Toronto, en Ontario. Elle parle de sa carrière de natation. Marilyn explique que Winnie Roach-Leuszler l'a aidée à nager son premier mile à la course d'exhibition CNE, où elle a rencontré son entraîneur, Gus Ryder. Marilyn décrit Winnie Roach et Cliff Lumsden comme ses mentors. Marilyn raconte qu'elle s'entraînait à Port Credit avec le club de natation Lakeshore. Marilyn décrit en détail la traversée du lac Ontario à la nage en 1954, qui a été pour elle la première fois qu'elle a nagé la nuit. Marilyn parle également de sa traversée de la Manche et du détroit Juan de Fuca à la nage et des défis de ces deux épreuves. Marilyn décrit comment elle mangeait du sirop de maïs avec du pablum à l'aide d'un bâton d'alimentation pendant ses traversées à la nage. Marilyn parle de son enfance et explique qu'elle était une personne timide et réservée pour qui il n'a pas été facile de devenir une vedette médiatique. Elle ajoute que Barbara Ann Scott était un modèle pour elle. Marilyn parle également de la confiance et du respect qu'elle avait pour Gus Ryder. Marilyn discute également de l'importance de la pensée positive, des changements technologiques dans le sport et de l'importance du sport pour la jeunesse. Elle montre ses bâtons d'alimentation, son maillot de bain et ses lunettes à la caméra. |
Scope & Content |
Marilyn Bell interview, 26 and 27 July 2008, digitized MP4 from Sony 40 Advanced ME DVCAM. Three tapes with a total viewing time of 01:39:56. 1 of 3 2:08Childhood: 1949, age 9, was the summer she swam her first mile in the Oakwood swimming pool; was at the lakeshore watching the training for the CNE marathon swims and met Winnie Roach-Leuszler and her father (Winnie was the first Canadian to swim the English Channel); Marilyn was with her father, Winnie's father said to come back and Winnie would help her, he thought she could do it; (3:32) he threw out this challenge"; Winnie helped to swim in the lake and Marilyn swam her first mile in the exhibition swim, finishing last in the women's race, finishing on her back. It was also when she first met Cliff Lumsden. 5:11Got into distance swimming "because I was such a lousy short distance swimmer," always coming in third or fourth. (5:32) "I didn't fit into the box of a lean, mean competitive swimmer that's raching a clock and other people."; met Gus Ryder - "I had no idea where was going to take me" and switched to his club, the Lakeshore Swim Club 7:11On describing herself when she was 16: Her father would have described her as hard headed and stubborn, but she was determined - perfect fit for a marathon, patient, let things happen and change things along the way. She had gone to a convent school and was shy and private 9:24Where did the motivation come from: "I had a fire inside of me" and desire to go to the Olympics, realized would not going to do that but gradually changed goal and direction. Gus Ryder influenced her change in direction. Mentions that Winnie Roach was a mentor, Cliff Lumsden was a mentor and Barbara Ann Scott, who was a role model. Recalls seeing Barbara Ann Scott surrounded by a big crowd of people at city hall. 12:12First professional swim came in fourth. Her teacher said they were proud of her and that swimming was a more "ladylike sport." The three important men in her life: her father, Gus Ryder, and her husband. 13:55How often trained: at the pool over winter; serious training was at Port Credit in the river. Took street car out to where Gus Ryder would pick them up in his car to drive to the river. Trained from 1-2 hours depending on weather, etc. 15: 20on Gus Ryder: "Gus is larger than life". He set a high standard. Mentioned switching from the Dolphinettes to Gus Ryder's club; trusted him; she also helped with teaching disabled children after being introduced by Gus and this turned into a life-long love. The life lesson she learned from Gus "It wasn't just about swimming, it was about living." 19:33On the 1954 Lake Ontario Swim: totally naive, not involved in the planning, the media was driving the swim scene; CNE had invited Florence Chadwick, an American, was to swim across "our" lake; Florence had a business arrangement for the swim and pay her $10,000 and it was a solo challenge. Excluded Canadian challengers, such as Cliff Lumsden who were established marathon swimmers and they were upset; Cliff was training for a 26 mile marathon in Atlantic City at the time and Gus suggested Marilyn train for it as well. She entered and came in 9th overall, beating the rest of the women and some of the men. "It was really cool" beating all those men. 24:48Recalls the swim across Lake Ontario: Did not tell anyone that she was scared and thinking she couldn't do it but taking one stroke at a time and wanting to do one more stroke than Florence; Gus didn't tell her Florence was out of the race until she was feeling really unmotivated, used it to motivate her just before dawn. 27:05Had about two weeks to train for the swim, the CNE had already started; initially was told that she was an alternate on the men's relay team. The purse would be split five way. Had the medical to be cleared to swim. Recalls funding problem - her family could not afford it, needed a boat, medical personnel, security, etc; Toronto Star agreed to sponser her (just covered her expenses). She became the media darling of the Toronto Star. 31:10 How her father and Gus Ryder prepared her: talks about her father wanting her not be pressured to do the swim; talks about night swimming for the first time and the eels, talks about Gus keeping he motivated. 32:54During the swim: Gus would shine a light just ahead of her and that she reached for the light and how it was psychologically very strong, but light attracted the eels. 34:36Talks about how she prevented getting chilled while swimming. Recalls swimming through warm and cold patchs, since she trained in cold water (started swimming outdoors in May). The Juan de Fuca swim was in colder water. 38:04The start of the race: Florence Chadwick was in charge of determing the start time; waiting for two days and they were to get 40 minutes notice but her Dad and Gus had gone for a walk when they were notified; a photographer from the Star helped her get to the start at the Coast Guard station 2 of 3: 0:07 The start of the Lake Ontario race, continued: Gus could not be at the start so she had to start out on her own, in the night, in the dark, and trust that he would find her in the dark. It was overcast so there was no visible starlight. Recalls being scared before Gus, the boat and his light found her. 4:32Talks about using Vaseline and not lanolin to reduce chaffing of swimsuit 5:04What she ate: talks about drinking corn syrup, and then eventually her coach mixed the corn syrup with pablum. 6:00Talks about the waves, the currents, being blown by the wind and getting shifted off course, talks about her support group in the boat 8:00Talks about sunrise and how it made her feel hopeful; (9:02) talks about being ready to quit, using the feeding stick to get ointment for her sore legs. Gus moved the boat away and she had to swim for it; she was angry but he knew she would never forgive him if she quit 12:04Talks about friend Joan Cook who came out to the boat and then joined her briefly in the water to keep her moving; she has no recollection of the ending and touching the shore or the crowds waiting for her; "I missed the best part" 15:33Talks about the post-swim medical examination and how each newspaper brought their own ambulances. 17:26After the swim: her life changed and she refers to her life as "before the swim and after the swim"; she became a public person; she remembers getting fan mail and parents saying they wanted their child to be like her and set a good example; talks about the heavy responsibility, learning to do interviews, photographs, "everyone wanted a piece of Marilyn" and refers to Barbara Ann Scott as her idol, presenting a strong image of Canadian womanhood 20:34English Channel swim: pace is important, having a pilot that is familiar with pace and tide, not experienced in salt water or with tides; lesson in patience and determination since it took so long to reach the shore because of the tides 22:50The English Channel swim: "the classic lady of all marathon swims". Talks about Winnie Roach and Cindy Nicholas swimming the English Channel and why she wanted to do it for the challenge 23:491956 Juan de Fuca Strait swim: dealing with treacherous tides and very cold water; when she swam the conditions were good (flat water, but foggy). Knew that it would be her last swim and had planned to retire at age 18, she had already met her future husband; "doomed to failure" because of negative thoughts and attitude; (26:55). Didn't want to end her career in failure so made second attempt. Bad water conditions but since she was swimming towards "home" she was psychologically better, and mentally prepared. 28:00"I felt good, all those years of determination and training came together." 28:28Talks about this swim being life changing since she had to deal with failure, when everyone was expecting her to finish the first attempt and she didn't make it; (28:59) "Failure is not something, you don't have to be afraid of failure"; she realized she was still going to be loved 28:37"From that I learned, for the rest of my life, if I failed at something, if I really believed I did my best and I failed, then that was ok. There wasn't anything negative about that. If I failed because I didn't put out the energy and doing what I should have been doing, then I had to really talk to myself about it. It's a life lesson because throughout my life I've had ups and downs, sometimes the ides are with me and sometimes it's against me, sometimes you have to stop something. But the key is you don't give up. Change your goal, change your interest but do something, don't stop." 30:14Talks about the Lou Marsh award, that it was the most wonderful that had happened to her at that point - "I've arrived" 3 of 3: 2:19(part of this section is missing) she talks about the radio broadcast of the swim and how a young man had listened to it and when he was lost at sea he thought if she could do it, so could he 3:42Induction to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame: inducted in 1958; was a new mother, married for a year. Recalls when she came to Toronto in 1963 and attended a luncheon with other women inductees and had her Dad there so it was very important to her 7:01Talks about the swim being you versus the lake.The changes in technology for marathon swimming (GSP, weather reports, and monitoring body temperature). She is the most proud of being the first person and first woman to swim the lake and have a sense of satisfaction in beating those who said it could not be done. 11:31For a young person in her sport of swimming it is important to be water safe and to be able to help themselves if they get into a trouble spot. 12:30"When kids are involved in sport, as long as they want to be involved and they are not being pushed by this vicarious need that some parents might have ... run the risk of damaging the young person's self esteem... When kids are allowed to participate, they have good coaching, they learn the rules of sportsmanship, they learn that there are going to be times that you are going to be last in your event. There may be times when you come in the middle and sometimes you even come out first. But the really important thing is the participation and that I want to do this for me... I'm trying." 13:36Another thing that is important is that you allow kids to chose what they want to participate in. Talks about how her son thought there was an expectation that he had to swim. When he switched to karate it positively affected his self esteem. 15:25"I had then and I continue to have a deep well of fire, passion, determination. I need to be who I am and I need to be allowed to be able to be who I am. And I may not and I may not get it right all the time but I know that I'm better off trying and messing up than not trying at all." 17:35She talks about trying to be a model for kids her age and younger kids and still trying to do that 18:41"I would really like to be remembered as someone who just swam along, my own pace, my own values - It's who I am." 20:05Talks about Gus Ryder and the deep relationship and trust she had in him. For parents - "Allow your child to grow, to try and to chose the right find of people to guide your child". Talks about her parents choosing wisely and that they picked a good man, a good solid man - we were a team 21:09Shows feeding sticks and explains how they were used. 23:24Shows her swimsuit and talks about it. Explains how the emblem at the front fell off during the swim. 24:23Shows her goggles and talks about her struggle wearing them. |
Date |
2008/07/27 |
People |
Bell, Marilyn Ryder, Gus Bell, Sydney Lumsden, Cliff Roach, Winnie Chadwick, Florence Scott, Barbara Ann Nicholas, Cindy |
Search Terms |
Athlete Interview Women in sport Marilyn Bell Swimming Aquatics Marathon swimming Lake Ontario English Channel Juan de Fuca Strait Canadian National Exhibition CNE |