Meet Adventure Swimmer Susan Simmons
Adventure Swimmer, Susan Simmons is more than just an athlete, she is a hero. Her selfless role as a conservationist, advocate and inspirational speaker brings hope for the environment, our community and budding adventurists. Her heart shines a light and fades away darkness as a living example that no matter what challenges are ahead of you, you can always overcome them.
We are blessed to have this opportunity to present this special interview. In these challenging times, we need to be reminded that we will get through this. Adventure swimmer Susan Simmons will inspire you and bring strength into your life. This is Susan Simmons' Journey.
Most importantly, I keep moving forward and never listen to those who say I can’t do something. When people say that, I think “maybe you can’t but that doesn’t mean I can’t.” Susan Simmons
Your journey is one that is impressive beyond measure and many look up to you as a hero. Tell us a little about yourself and how you found your journey with long-distance open water swimming?
I am humbled. You are very kind.
I am a 55-year-old woman living with Multiple Sclerosis. I have had the disease for over 25 years. I self identify as disabled, although many do not see me as such as it is an invisible disease.
When I was first diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis I was told by my doctor not to exercise as it may cause an attack and I would get sicker. I did what I was told and became sicker, so much so it was hard to walk a block. I decided to take things into my own hands and began swimming to see if it would help me better manage the disease.
My first few weeks in the pool lead to 2-3 hour names after swimming no more than 20 lengths. Eventually, I worked up to a masters workout in the morning and soon after another in the evening. I started competing in competitions to keep me motivated.
After a period of time I grew bored of pool competition and decided to try open water swimming. I started with the 1.5-kilometer swim at the Thetis Lake Swim for MS. I quite liked it and decided to try the 3km swim the following year and then the 5km swim the year after that. The 4th year I did the 5km swim and the 1.5km swim. At that point, I ran out of lake and moved to the ocean for my first 10km swim.
I have since completed a number of swims between 20 and 70 km in waters ranging from 9C to 18C. It was really about building up slowly over time and trying new things.
On your adventures, you have explored the Great Bear Rainforest, swam with humpbacks, and experienced dark ocean swims. Where do you draw your sense of adventure from and love for the wild swim?
When I first swam in the Great Bear Rainforest through the Inside Passage I was terrified. I had never seen so many different things in the ocean in one place. And I knew there was a lot that I wasn’t seeing too. It was beautiful and scary at the same time. On my practice swim I was so anxious I popped out of the water for a few moments to collect my thoughts and calm my nerves. I sat on a rock crying, thinking I would never be able to complete my goal swim from Ocean Falls to Bella Bella. I was devastated.
A good friend, Terry talked me off of the ledge and I popped back in the water to complete a 10km swim from Drifter’s Cove to Shearwater. After that, I was hooked. I knew I would encounter wildlife on my swims in Great Bear, but I also knew I could trust my crew, and they would keep me safe. Since then I have had several orca and humpback encounters.
One year a humpback swam directly below me. Hard to believe a whale that size could come out of nowhere but it did. I flipped and tried to hide behind one of my kayakers. This time I was able to convince myself to continue.
Last year when I swam down Fisher Channel to Koeye I encountered at least 8 humpbacks. At one point 2 of them were bubble net feeding within 25 meters of me. I knew the whales were present but never saw them. I just kept swimming.
Even after being diagnosed with MS you courageously continued to enter the water. You defied what some skeptics said could be impossible. What advice would you give to others who have encountered obstacles and searching for the courage to move forward?
It was MS that got me back in the water. I swam as a youth from the age of 5 to 15. I quit during my turbulent teens finding I was uncomfortable with the impact competition had on me and my “friends.” When I was 40, the idea of not being able to walk and spending the rest of life in a wheelchair was enough to get me back in the pool. It wasn’t something I ever thought I would do and at the time I was afraid I would be a horrible swimmer as I hadn’t been in the pool for over 25 years. You could say the fear of one thing helped me overcome the fear of another.
This works the same with adventure and pioneer swims. The fear of what I will miss if I don’t try is so much greater than the fear of trying. I have so much more to gain by trying and everything to lose if I don’t. It’s not so much about courage as it is about managing fear.
When I encounter obstacles beyond fear I try to approach them with patience, calm and logic. If one thing doesn’t work I try another. If someone or something is blocking my path, I wait for them or it to move, I find a way to move them or it out of the way, or I find another path.
I plan, plan and plan again thinking of all of the things that may get it my way and plan all of the ways I might manage these obstacles. Most importantly, I keep moving forward and never listen to those who say I can’t do something. When people say that, I think “maybe you can’t but that doesn’t mean I can’t.”
If you want it bad enough you will get there. Stay focused, be patient. Susan Simmons
Throughout your career as an athlete, you have had amazing support from friends, loved ones, and sponsors. How is their involvement with you essential and how can others get involved with your amazing adventures?
I have been very fortunate to have a community of supportive people around me. My crew, those who take care of me during the swims, are a big part of what makes my swims successful. My pilot in the Salish Sea (Juan de Fuca, Haro and Georgia Strait), Gordon Higgins, has over 40 years of sailing experience in these waters and donates his boat and time.
MJ VanBergen, my chief observer and safety has been with me through all of my swims and makes sure I am fed on time, and watches to make sure I am not getting hypothermic. Matt Piechnik who brings years of water experience with him mans a motorboat that accompanies the sailboat and is ready to pull me from the water in the case I need to be rushed to shore.
Claire Skillen, Pam Loadman and Corey Teramura are all well-seasoned kayakers and have spent many an hour beside me while I swim. Shawn Stalker has lent her nursing skills across Juan de Fuca.
When in Great Bear, my friend Colette Hennigan from Pacific Wild helps with all aspects of my swim including local knowledge and working with the Heiltsuk First Nation community. Her brother Kevin Hennigan provides me with lodging at Drifter’s Cove and donates his boats as does Pacific Wild. Don Tite, a member of the Coast Guard, also donates his boat and has become invaluable for his local knowledge and experience.
All my crew have a passion for the ocean and helping others. They understand what I am trying to do through my swims - and that is to show others with disabilities not to limit themselves and that we need healthy environments to be healthy people. They fully support these ideas.
Most of all though, my partner Ray Este, is the one who makes all of this possible. He makes sure that I can focus on my training and swims. He is there with me whenever I am in the open water and during moments of frustration when I want to quit. He reminds me why I am doing what I am doing and encourages me to keep going.
For anyone interested in learning more I encourage them to contact me.
How can our readers connect and follow your adventures on social media and the web?
I have a few websites that I use for different adventures. All are linked in through my main website which is SusanSimmons.ca. I am active on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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