Winds, Water Conditions Force Swimmer To End Historic Sacramento-San Francisco Bay Swim
SACRAMENTO (CBS/AP) -- An endurance swimmer ended her attempt on Saturday to become the first woman to accomplish the longest solo, unassisted swim after facing high winds during the 93-mile swim from Sacramento to Tiburon on the western edge of San Francisco Bay.
The journey was expected to take 48 hours, but Kim Chambers called off her bid after swimming for 24 hours.
"The windmills were just spinning and there were kite surfers and wind surfers everywhere," Chambers told the Sacramento Bee. "So it was just the wind that was gusting and it was unsafe for everyone involved."
Chambers began her plan to swim through the Sacramento River toward the bay Friday to raise money and support for military veterans. Her goal was to step out of the waters on Sunday, Sept. 11.
Although she didn't finish the swim, she said was satisfied with what she was able to accomplish.
"You never really realize what you're capable of until you try," she said. "It's been about setting a goal and putting your heart and body toward reaching that goal."
Last year, the 39-year-old New Zealand native and San Francisco resident became the first woman to swim 30 miles of shark-infested waters from the Farallon Islands to the Golden Gate Bridge.
For both swims, she abided by English Channel rules prohibiting the use of a wetsuit and resting on a boat.
A former ballerina, Chambers took up swimming to rehabilitate from an accident in which she nearly lost a leg.
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