Swim the Fish turns into (mostly) virtual race
HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 11 months AGO
Swimmers make their way into Whitefish Lake Saturday morning for the Swim the Fish. The event typically draws dozens of swimmers, but this year it moved primarily online with swimmers competing on their own due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A group of seven swimmers still gathered Saturday morning to swim the 1-mile and 2-mile races together for the event that’s a fundraiser for The Wave. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
Carrie Jacobs swims in the Swim the Fish event Saturday off City Beach at Whitefish Lake. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
Hillary Hanson swims Saturday morning in the Swim the Fish event at Whitefish Lake. (Heidi Desch/Whitefish Pilot)
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms. With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news. | August 12, 2020 1:00 AM
The annual Swim the Fish typically draws dozens of swimmers to Whitefish Lake for the open water swim event.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event moved primarily to virtual participation with swimmers completing the race on their own schedule in a pool or in a lake.
A group of seven swimmers did still meet at City Beach Saturday morning, on the day the event had previously been scheduled, to complete the race at the same time.
The race is a choice of either a 1-mile open water swim or 1500 meter pool swim.
The swim is a fundraiser event for the Wave’s scholarship fund.
Carrie Jacobs, swim coach at the Wave, said about 50 people signed up for the race.
Participants have until Aug. 16 to complete and record their own time before unofficial race result winners will be announced.
For more information, visit http://www.whitefishwave.com/swim-the-fish/.
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