Toronto Cemetery Walker
Cliff Lumsdon
Cliff Lumsdon
long-distance swimmer
Section 19 - 835
www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/lumsdon-cliff/
Cliff Lumsdon, long-distance swimmer (b at Toronto 1 Apr 1931; d at Etobicoke, Ont 31 Aug 1991). At age 6 Lumsdon joined the Lakeshore Swim Club in Toronto, coached by the famous Gus Ryder.
Lumsdon, Cliff
Cliff Lumsdon, long-distance swimmer (b at Toronto 1 Apr 1931; d at Etobicoke, Ont 31 Aug 1991). At age 6 Lumsdon joined the Lakeshore Swim Club in Toronto, coached by the famous Gus Ryder. In 1949 he claimed the first of 5 men's world marathon swimming championships by beating a field of 70 in the CNE 15-mile (24 km) swim with a time of 7 hrs 55 mins. He received the LOU MARSH TROPHY as Canada's athlete of the year in 1949. He continued to do well after 1954, when the shorter waterfront marathon was replaced by a 30-mile (48 km) swim across the lake. In 1956 he won the Atlantic City 26-mile (42 km) event and became the second man (after Bert Thomas) to conquer the Juan de Fuca Strait. Later, he coached his daughter Kim and assisted Cindy NICHOLAS and other marathon swimmers.
Lumsdon`s contribution to the sport has continued to be recognized. In addition to winning the Lou Marsh Trophy, he was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1976 and the Ontario Aquatic Hall of Fame in 1993, and in 2013 he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. The Cliff Lumsdon award is also presented annually to an outstanding marathon swimmer in Ontario.
Cliff Lumsdon set records in marathon swimming
Author: Theresa Boyle Toronto Star
ProQuest document link
Abstract (Abstract): Mr. Lumsdon got his start in swimming at the age of 6, with legendary swimming coach Gus Ryder, who used to pick him up at the Oakwood Swimming Pool. Other long-distance swimmers who benefited from his training include Jocylin Muir and Diane Nyad, whom Mr. Lumsdon pulled unconscious from Lake Ontario in 1974 during a swim. Mr. Lumsdon dived in to rescue Nyad at Port Dalhousie, when he saw her slide beneath the surface after she encountered a strong headwind. She was rushed to hospital and recovered.
Full text: Cliff Lumsdon thrilled Canadians in the 1950s with his feats in marathon swimming. He died Saturday of a heart attack at age 60. In 1949, at the age of 18, he defeated 70 competitors to win the world's championship and was subsequently awarded the Lou Marsh trophy as Canada's athlete of the year. It was the first of five swimming victories at the Canadian National Exhibition. Mr. Lumsdon once told reporters that his best and hardest effort came in 1955 at the CNE, when he was the only one out of 30 competitors to complete a 51-kilometre (32-mile) stretch in chilly water. The following year, he defeated long-time rival Tom Park in a gruelling 42-kilometre (26-mile) battle at Atlantic City. That same year he became the first swimmer to cross the Strait of Juan de Fuca in British Columbia. Mr. Lumsdon was named a companion of the Order of Canada in 1982 and was named to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1976. Tommy Walker, the great swimmer and Olympic coach, once called Mr. Lumsdon "king of the pro swimmers." Mr. Lumsdon got his start in swimming at the age of 6, with legendary swimming coach Gus Ryder, who used to pick him up at the Oakwood Swimming Pool. His career, which began in 1946 and ended with his last race in 1965, earned more money - $152,000 - than the earnings of any other swimmer until then. He complained in the mid-'70s that the prize money for swimmers he was coaching then was "peanuts. It's hardly enough to buy a sandwich." He also helped coach his daughter, Kim, across Lake Ontario in 1976. "You've got to have guts to swim the lake. He had a winning streak in him," his daughter said. "He was a great inspiration. He was just so determined," she added. "Never give up and always fight to the end, because nothing comes easy in sports," he was once quoted as saying. "The only regret I have is that I turned pro before the 1948 Olympics." he said. Other long-distance swimmers who benefited from his training include Jocylin Muir and Diane Nyad, whom Mr. Lumsdon pulled unconscious from Lake Ontario in 1974 during a swim. Mr. Lumsdon dived in to rescue Nyad at Port Dalhousie, when he saw her slide beneath the surface after she encountered a strong headwind. She was rushed to hospital and recovered. When Nyad regained consciousness, she felt she had let everyone down, Mr. Lumsdon was quoted as saying. A constant support, he told her she was "one of the greatest swimmers I've ever seen." He also coached disabled children. In 1976, Etobicoke Mayor Dennis Flynn gave Kim Lumsdon a plaque and her father a watch for making Etobicoke a name well known in sports. In his later years, Mr. Lumsdon only entered the pool for the occasional recreational swim. But he still kept his
eyes open for talent as the supervisor for the Etobicoke parks and recreation department. "He believed that sports built character in children and he helped draw that out of them," said his wife, Joan, from the family's Etobicoke home. Mr. Lumsdon also leaves three grandchildren: Sasha, 9, Jana, 7, and Natasha, 4. Visitation is tomorrow at the Ridley Funeral Home at 3080 Lake Shore Blvd. W. between 2 and 4 p.m. and 7 and 9 p.m. The funeral will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m., with burial at the Prospect Cemetery at 1450 St. Clair Ave. W. Illustration Caption: Star photo Cliff Lumsdon and student swimmers
People: Lumsdon, Cliff Nyad, Diane
Publication title: Toronto Star
Pages: A8
Number of pages: 0
Publication year: 1991
Publication date: Sep 2, 1991
Year: 1991
Section: NEWS
Publisher: Torstar Syndication Services, a Division of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited
Place of publication: Toronto, Ont.
Country of publication: Canada
Publication subject: General Interest Periodicals--Canada
ISSN: 03190781
Source type: Newspapers
Language of publication: English
Document type: NEWSPAPER
ProQuest document ID: 436488414
Document URL: search.proquest.com.ezproxy.torontopubliclibrary.ca/docvi...
Copyright: Copyright 1991 Toronto Star, All Rights Reserved.
Last updated: 2010-06-29
Database: Canadian Major Dailies
_______________________________________________________________
Contact ProQuest Copyright 2016 ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. - Terms and Conditions
Cliff Lumsdon
Cliff Lumsdon
long-distance swimmer
Section 19 - 835
www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/lumsdon-cliff/
Cliff Lumsdon, long-distance swimmer (b at Toronto 1 Apr 1931; d at Etobicoke, Ont 31 Aug 1991). At age 6 Lumsdon joined the Lakeshore Swim Club in Toronto, coached by the famous Gus Ryder.
Lumsdon, Cliff
Cliff Lumsdon, long-distance swimmer (b at Toronto 1 Apr 1931; d at Etobicoke, Ont 31 Aug 1991). At age 6 Lumsdon joined the Lakeshore Swim Club in Toronto, coached by the famous Gus Ryder. In 1949 he claimed the first of 5 men's world marathon swimming championships by beating a field of 70 in the CNE 15-mile (24 km) swim with a time of 7 hrs 55 mins. He received the LOU MARSH TROPHY as Canada's athlete of the year in 1949. He continued to do well after 1954, when the shorter waterfront marathon was replaced by a 30-mile (48 km) swim across the lake. In 1956 he won the Atlantic City 26-mile (42 km) event and became the second man (after Bert Thomas) to conquer the Juan de Fuca Strait. Later, he coached his daughter Kim and assisted Cindy NICHOLAS and other marathon swimmers.
Lumsdon`s contribution to the sport has continued to be recognized. In addition to winning the Lou Marsh Trophy, he was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1976 and the Ontario Aquatic Hall of Fame in 1993, and in 2013 he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. The Cliff Lumsdon award is also presented annually to an outstanding marathon swimmer in Ontario.
Cliff Lumsdon set records in marathon swimming
Author: Theresa Boyle Toronto Star
ProQuest document link
Abstract (Abstract): Mr. Lumsdon got his start in swimming at the age of 6, with legendary swimming coach Gus Ryder, who used to pick him up at the Oakwood Swimming Pool. Other long-distance swimmers who benefited from his training include Jocylin Muir and Diane Nyad, whom Mr. Lumsdon pulled unconscious from Lake Ontario in 1974 during a swim. Mr. Lumsdon dived in to rescue Nyad at Port Dalhousie, when he saw her slide beneath the surface after she encountered a strong headwind. She was rushed to hospital and recovered.
Full text: Cliff Lumsdon thrilled Canadians in the 1950s with his feats in marathon swimming. He died Saturday of a heart attack at age 60. In 1949, at the age of 18, he defeated 70 competitors to win the world's championship and was subsequently awarded the Lou Marsh trophy as Canada's athlete of the year. It was the first of five swimming victories at the Canadian National Exhibition. Mr. Lumsdon once told reporters that his best and hardest effort came in 1955 at the CNE, when he was the only one out of 30 competitors to complete a 51-kilometre (32-mile) stretch in chilly water. The following year, he defeated long-time rival Tom Park in a gruelling 42-kilometre (26-mile) battle at Atlantic City. That same year he became the first swimmer to cross the Strait of Juan de Fuca in British Columbia. Mr. Lumsdon was named a companion of the Order of Canada in 1982 and was named to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1976. Tommy Walker, the great swimmer and Olympic coach, once called Mr. Lumsdon "king of the pro swimmers." Mr. Lumsdon got his start in swimming at the age of 6, with legendary swimming coach Gus Ryder, who used to pick him up at the Oakwood Swimming Pool. His career, which began in 1946 and ended with his last race in 1965, earned more money - $152,000 - than the earnings of any other swimmer until then. He complained in the mid-'70s that the prize money for swimmers he was coaching then was "peanuts. It's hardly enough to buy a sandwich." He also helped coach his daughter, Kim, across Lake Ontario in 1976. "You've got to have guts to swim the lake. He had a winning streak in him," his daughter said. "He was a great inspiration. He was just so determined," she added. "Never give up and always fight to the end, because nothing comes easy in sports," he was once quoted as saying. "The only regret I have is that I turned pro before the 1948 Olympics." he said. Other long-distance swimmers who benefited from his training include Jocylin Muir and Diane Nyad, whom Mr. Lumsdon pulled unconscious from Lake Ontario in 1974 during a swim. Mr. Lumsdon dived in to rescue Nyad at Port Dalhousie, when he saw her slide beneath the surface after she encountered a strong headwind. She was rushed to hospital and recovered. When Nyad regained consciousness, she felt she had let everyone down, Mr. Lumsdon was quoted as saying. A constant support, he told her she was "one of the greatest swimmers I've ever seen." He also coached disabled children. In 1976, Etobicoke Mayor Dennis Flynn gave Kim Lumsdon a plaque and her father a watch for making Etobicoke a name well known in sports. In his later years, Mr. Lumsdon only entered the pool for the occasional recreational swim. But he still kept his
eyes open for talent as the supervisor for the Etobicoke parks and recreation department. "He believed that sports built character in children and he helped draw that out of them," said his wife, Joan, from the family's Etobicoke home. Mr. Lumsdon also leaves three grandchildren: Sasha, 9, Jana, 7, and Natasha, 4. Visitation is tomorrow at the Ridley Funeral Home at 3080 Lake Shore Blvd. W. between 2 and 4 p.m. and 7 and 9 p.m. The funeral will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m., with burial at the Prospect Cemetery at 1450 St. Clair Ave. W. Illustration Caption: Star photo Cliff Lumsdon and student swimmers
People: Lumsdon, Cliff Nyad, Diane
Publication title: Toronto Star
Pages: A8
Number of pages: 0
Publication year: 1991
Publication date: Sep 2, 1991
Year: 1991
Section: NEWS
Publisher: Torstar Syndication Services, a Division of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited
Place of publication: Toronto, Ont.
Country of publication: Canada
Publication subject: General Interest Periodicals--Canada
ISSN: 03190781
Source type: Newspapers
Language of publication: English
Document type: NEWSPAPER
ProQuest document ID: 436488414
Document URL: search.proquest.com.ezproxy.torontopubliclibrary.ca/docvi...
Copyright: Copyright 1991 Toronto Star, All Rights Reserved.
Last updated: 2010-06-29
Database: Canadian Major Dailies
_______________________________________________________________
Contact ProQuest Copyright 2016 ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. - Terms and Conditions