Special to IFN

Charlotte native Leslie Hamilton swam the length of Lake Norman, North Carolina’s largest manmade lake, on October 6-7.

Pending ratification by the Marathon Swimmers Federation (marathonswimmers.org), this is the first documented solo marathon swim on Lake Norman.

Hamilton, who currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, began her swim at 5:01 p.m. on October 6 under the Highway 70 bridge over the Catawba River. She completed the swim at 7:50 a.m. on October 7 at the boat ramp at Blythe Landing Park.

The swim covered approximately 26 miles and was completed in approximately 14 hours and 49 minutes, without stopping or assistance.

The achievement adds to an already distinguished record and underscores her commitment to showcasing both endurance and environmental awareness. Hamilton previously made headlines in 2023 when she became the first woman to complete a solo circumnavigation swim around Staten Island, N.Y., finishing the nearly 37-mile journey in just over 14 hours.

She has also successfully completed the 20 Bridges Manhattan Island swim, the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim, and the SCAR Swim in Arizona. She is also the time record holder of the Rose Pitonof swim from Manhattan to Coney Island, N.Y.

“As someone who grew up in Charlotte, I wanted to show that Lake Norman, a place so many people know for boating and recreation, could also be a stage for endurance swimming,” said Hamilton. “Open water swimming is not only about personal achievement,” she added, “but also about respecting and drawing attention to our waterways.”

Hamilton was born and raised in Charlotte, where she attended the Charlotte Latin School and swam with SwimMAC Carolina. A former collegiate swimmer at Centre College, she has transitioned to marathon and stage swimming events around the world. In addition to her swimming pursuits, she works professionally as a private fund controller and is a strong advocate for clean waterways and the growth of open water swimming.