Billy Connor

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William Francis Connor, the first person to successfully swim across lac Memphrémagog, done in 1955

19-year-old William Francis Billy O'Connor was the first person to complete a crossing of lac Memphrémagog. His swim on 21 August 1955 took 18 hours 35 minutes, swimming from south to north despite a storm that hit near midnight and caused him to take refuge near the side of the lake.

O'Connor had a 10-minute break every hour to replenish his energy and power. His successful swim was the inspiration for the Traversée Internationale du Lac Memphrémagog, a professional marathon swim started in 1979, a distance of 42 km between Prouty Beach, Newport (USA) and Pointe Merry in Magog (Quebec).

He was also reportedly one of the first swimmers to see Memphre during a marathon swim in Lake Memphremagog.

External links

• Traversée Internationale du lac Memphrémagog website
• Billy O'Connor Crosses Where There's A Big Expanse Of Water
• It Is Going To Be An Adventure
• Festivities Of Traversée du lac Memphrémagog Begin
• The Legend Of Memphre©
• Pioneers Are Honored From North To South
• The Triple Crown Of Lake Monster Swims
• Legacy Of Lac Memphrémagog
• Marathon Swimming
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• Open Water Swimming
• Daily News of Open Water Swimming