RI Olympian Elizabeth Beisel To Swim To Block Island This Week

NARRAGANSETT, RI — Rhode Island's very own Olympian will swim from mainland Rhode Island to Block Island this week, for a good cause. If she completes the swim, Beisel will be the first woman to finish the nearly 10-and-a-half mile route.

Beisel will swim in honor of her father, who died from stage 4 pancreatic cancer in July. One of Ted Beisel's last wishes was that his daughter complete the Block Cancer charity swim, according to charity organization Swim Across America. The proceeds from the swim will benefit the organization, where she has been a volunteer for more than a decade. To date, the Block Cancer swim has raised more than its $100,000 goal, though donations are still accepted.

Beisel's support team will include two support boats, EMTs, shark experts, a navigator, her coach, family and Elaine Howley of the Marathon Swimmers Federation. She will be flanked by two kayakers, who will assist with feeding during the swim, which is expected to last about five hours.

The swim is scheduled to kick off at 6:15 Wednesday morning, when Beisel will leave from the beach at Matunuck's Ocean Mist Restaurant. From there, she will swim in a straight line to the intended finish line, just west of Grove Point on Block Island.

Beisel is a three-time Olympian, silver medal winner and the captain of Team USA during the 2016 summer games.