Holy strokes!
LOREN BENOIT/Press Peter Neirinckx, of Coeur d’Alene, swam more than 18 miles from Harrison to Coeur d’Alene on Monday to celebrate his 50th birthday. He began his swim at 5:05 a.m. and finished at 3:35 p.m. at Independence Point, seen here.
LOREN BENOIT/PressPeter Neirinckx, of Coeur d'Alene, swam more than 18 miles from Harrison to Coeur d'Alene to celebrate his 50th birthday. He is seen here approaching at Independence Point.
LOREN BENOIT/PressGage Neirinckx helps his father, Peter, out of the water Monday afternoon at Independence Point. Peter swam more than 18 miles from Harrison to Coeur d'Alene to celebrate his 50th birthday on Monday.
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
COEUR d'ALENE — Peter Neirinckx made a splash Monday on Lake Coeur d'Alene.
In celebration of turning 50 last Thursday, the Coeur d'Alene entrepreneur entered the lake at 5:05 a.m. at Harrison, swam more than 18 miles and exited 10 and a half hours later at Independence Point in Coeur d'Alene at 3:35 p.m.
"It was a good day's effort," Neirinckx said with a smile moments after arriving on shore. "I'm thoroughly exhausted and hungry. All I can say is that I survived today and am happy."
Neirinckx researched others who've accomplished the feat and couldn't find many. He saw that a man from Colorado did it several years ago.
"But there could be others," he said.
By comparison, the swim leg of the full Ironman triathlon in Coeur d'Alene is 2.4 miles. The shortest distance across the English Channel, considered a huge feat in the swimming world, is 21 miles.
Neirinckx downplayed his feat compared to finishing a full Ironman, which also includes a 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run.
"I believe that Ironman would be definitely more difficult," said Neirinckx, who has competed in half Ironman triathlons.
Injuries, he said, have prevented him from competing in a full Ironman.
Neirinckx, who formerly swam competitively, played water polo at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and currently coaches the sport for a high school team in Coeur d'Alene, was shadowed by his brother John, son Gage, nephew Shane and others in a pontoon boat as spotters for safety during Monday's journey.
"He wanted to do something monumental to show that he's still young and can compete with anyone," John said of his brother. "That is a long ways to swim."
Peter paused for gel packs, a banana and water for fuel and ibuprofen to fend off pain, but never exited the water during the swim.
He said he hit multiple "walls" where he nearly suspended the swim only to find a way to forge ahead. He said he thought his shoulder would give him his biggest hurdle, but unexpected leg cramps proved to be the worst.
John said Peter's swim drew a lot of curious onlookers on the water.
"People on fishing boats would go by us and couldn't believe that there was a swimmer out there," John said. "We got some crazy looks from boaters."
Gage said he admires his father for the accomplishment, especially after he swam with his dad with about a mile left.
"I thought that after 17 and a half miles I could keep up with him, but I couldn't and I was fresh," said Gage, who helped his dad stand up on the concrete steps of Independence Point after the swim. "I'm very proud to call him my father."
Peter's previous longest swim was 7 miles last year from Higgens Point to Independence Point.
"I went with a group and the idea to do something longer was floated, but I was the only one crazy enough to stand up," he said.
Peter dedicated his feat to his family and support crew, who kept other boats and jet skis from coming too close.
He said he was hoping to finish the swim a little faster, but was proud of the overall accomplishment.
"I'm more happy with finishing than disappointed with the time," he said. "I have a newfound respect for people who do this."
As far as distance goes, Peter believes he's reached his pinnacle.
"It was really a personal accomplishment, a good milestone for me turning 50," he said. "But I don't think I'll be going any farther."