Annual Kingdom Swim draws a crowd to Lake Memphremagog

NEWPORT — The 16th Annual Kingdom Swim welcomed a diverse group of open water swimmers to Lake Memphremagog on Saturday, showcasing both record-breaking performances and inspiring feats of determination.

Anton Janezich, 32, of Bethesda, Maryland, set a new record in the 25 km Border Buster swim, completing the course in 5 hours, 37 minutes, and 11 seconds. Susan McKay, 45, of Ottawa, Ontario, led the women’s field in the same event with a time of 6:06:28.

The 10-mile race saw Emily Fogle, 32, of Brooklyn, NY, competing as a non-binary entrant, claim the overall victory with a time of 4:15:14.

At the other end of the spectrum, 10-year-old Rose Knight of Riverview, New Brunswick, completed her first open water event, swimming a quarter-mile in 18:16. Event organizers noted her enthusiasm, predicting she’ll likely return for future swims.

The event, which offered various distances and categories, was supported by 14 volunteer motorboats, local law enforcement, and 35 volunteer kayakers. It drew participants from across North America, with Jonny Allen traveling from Sonoma, California to compete in the one-mile swim.

Kingdom Swim organizers expressed gratitude for the community support and perfect weather conditions, with water temperatures around 75°F and light winds.

The event, recently awarded the Silver Medal by the World Open Water Swimming Association for the best open water swimming event in 2023, is scheduled to return on July 26, 2025.