Lynne Cox

Lynne Cox was a record-breaking athlete whose “firsts” include swimming the English Channel at age 15, swimming across Cook Strait (15.2 miles) between the North and South Islands of New Zealand, and swimming off Antarctica in 32-degree water—for 25 minutes!—all without a wetsuit. And that's where Swimming in the Sink begins—at a laboratory at the University of London, with Cox's hand in cold water, hooked up to thermocouples and probes. The test results paved the way for new medical and life-saving practices. In the midst of becoming the embodiment of a supreme endurance athlete, Cox had taken care of her elderly parents, both of whom passed away in quick succession followed by the death of her beloved Labrador retriever, leaving Lynne in shock from loss and loneliness and soon, literally, suffering from the debilitating effects of a broken heart.  Presented by Point Reyes Books and Black Mountain Circle.

About Lynne Cox: Lynne Cox is an American long-distance open-water swimmer, motivational speaker, and author. Over the course of more than 35 years, Lynne accomplished swims setting world records and opening borders, contributed to medical research, supported environmental causes, and inspired people to overcome great obstacles. She is best known for her swim across the Bering Strait from the United States to the Soviet Union on August 7, 1987. She twice held the overall record for the fastest crossing of the English Channel from England to France and has completed more than 60 challenging swims around the world.

About Black Mountain Circle: Black Mountain Circle (BMC) is a nonprofit in Point Reyes Station, CA, that explores the relationship between spirit, story, and place. BMC programs include author events, retreats, book groups, and writing workshops for youths and adults as well as the biennial Geography of Hope Conference and the literary journal, West Marin Review.