The idea for the swim came when she last visited and spent time with a family friend involved with the Gorge Swim Fest Society, which promotes swimming in the waterway.
“When I was a kid growing up in Victoria, the Gorge didn’t have the reputation of being a suitable swimming spot at all,” Rhymer said. “It was known for being polluted.”
Since the 1990s, cleanup efforts have improved the water quality, a boon for fish and swimmers alike. Now it is a great swim spot, home to the annual Gorge Swim Fest and a regular training spot for triathletes.