Swim4Freedom Recap

This past Sunday, August 1st, Gordy’s hosted their 13th annual Swim4Freedom event. The swimathon features dedicated volunteer swimmers and their spotters who devour a 3.1 mile (5k) stretch of Lake Geneva, all to support the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

According to the Swim4Freedom website, “The Special Operations Warrior Foundation ensures full financial assistance for a post-secondary degree from an accredited two or four-year college, university, technical or trade school, as well as family and educational counseling, including in-home tutoring, to the surviving children of Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations service members who lose their lives in the line of duty. The foundation also provides immediate financial assistance to severely wounded and hospitalized special operations service members. The Special Operations Warrior Foundation is committed to providing scholarship grants - not loans - to over 1,100 children, who survive over 900 special operations service members who gave their lives in service to our country.” It’s no wonder the yearly event attracts both local and out-of-state participants, all united by their enthusiasm to bring in money for a good cause.

Individual and relay teams check in at Gordy’s as early as 5:30 am at the lakefront. The swimmers range from ambitious grade schoolers to suave high school athletes to gray-haired veterans of the course. Some participants get creative with their team names, officially labelling themselves as “Team Bananas”, "Team Chicas”, and “Team Irish” on the check-in list.

In the still small glow of the growing morning light, the swimmers and their families gather around to hear from Steele Whowell, both the event runner and an accomplished swimmer, who takes a moment to thank the 23 individual and 17 relay teams. Next to speak is another one of the swimmers, a pastor, who sagely states that, “The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us”, before leaning in to some Scripture in Ephesians chapter 6 and leading a prayer over the group of swimmers and the cause they are supporting.

By 6:30, a mixed array of Cobalts, Everglades, and Malibus from Gordy’s can be found skating across the glass-like surface of the water, following the curve of the big orange buoys marking the course. A few wave runners weave around them, and a Water Safety Patrol and Fontana Fire Rescue Cruiser bring up the rear. They reach Williams Bay and unload their passengers; swimmers outfitted in caps and goggles, and spotters equipped with sun hats and all kinds of vessels like bright blue paddle boards, a sleek wooden canoe, and a yellow blow-up kayak reminiscent of a banana.

Teetering just before 7, the swimmers are in position, a few steps north of the small beach buoys that act as the starting line. The sea of speedos and swim caps surges together for the traditional photo, brandishing two American flags (one with the Swim4Freedom logo). The national anthem blares from Steele Whowell’s Malibu boat. The air is thick with excitement, and any trace of anxiousness is squashed as someone jokes, “Hopefully everyone’s motivated from watching the Olympics last night!” Then, at 7:03 am, the swimmers take off.

The Gordy’s shore is lined with families and friends of the participants, eager to capture their first moments out of the water with a picture, offer them a towel, and pat them on the back in admirable congratulations. Team Langelund/Collins was not only the first relay team to complete the 5k, but they were also the first swimmers to arrive at the finish line, pulling into the Gordy’s harbor only one hour and eleven minutes after the start, at 8:14 am. They were greeted by a big red banner with the word “Finish” stamped in bold white block letters. Team Oglesby/Larkin was right on their tail, coasting in within the same minute as the first place finishers. The third swimmer to dock was an individual, Patrick Lahey, who clocked in at 8:19 am. He didn’t even look tired as he pulled himself onto the pier. The remaining teams and individuals flowed in steadily for the next hour, the last swimmers arriving at 9:19 am to raucous applause.

After receiving hugs and high-fives from well-wishers, swimmers swarmed the grill, positioned just a few steps away from the finish line. Gordy’s had burgers and hotdogs sizzling as early as 8:30 am, along with a spread of deviled eggs, chips, chocolate chunk cookies, and sodas for the hungry swimmers, spotters, and other guests. Swimmers spilled into chairs at the Surf and Shore Shack and the Adirondacks out in front of the Boat House, cheerfully biting into burgers and munching on chips at 9 in the morning while relaying the events of the swim to their supporters. Though the event was not standing-room only, additional groups gathered onto the crossing out front, balancing plates of food and drinks as they conversed with one another.

Kitty-corner from the grill were tables furnished with white tablecloths and baskets bursting with gifts for the raffles. Whether you are a swimmer or a passerby, anyone can participate in the raffle, and the raffle spotlights gifts for anyone. The “YETI Perfect Picnic” basket was stuffed with all that you need for a feast, sports fans were clamoring to cram in tickets for the “Go Pack Go!” and “Fun for Fore” packages, and the “Adventure in Fontana” and “Abbey Resort Getaway” offered a balance of thrilling and relaxing opportunities to take advantage of on Lake Geneva. Gordy’s donates all proceeds from the raffle to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

A leader of the foundation came out and spoke to the crowd, explaining the organization’s multifold mission to take care of and protect the families of active and fallen special ops soldiers, and expressing his immense thanks for Swim4Freedom’s help in contributing profoundly to the lives of others through the charity.

After having to cancel last year’s event due to COVID-19, this year’s Swim4Freedom event definitely made up for it by way of a perfect day, an impressive turn-out, and a boatload of fun! Gordy’s is proud to partner with the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and looks forward to supporting them for many more years to come.