LAKE SHORE GRADUATE SWIMS THE ARCTIC CIRCLE IN INTERNATIONAL OPEN-WATER EVENT

1984 alumnus Chris Martin and daughter Caroline cross two countries and a time zone during 3km midnight race

ANGOLA, NY – On July 12, Chris Martin, a 1984 graduate of Lake Shore Central and former captain of the LSC Eagle Rays varsity swim team, joined his daughter Caroline in Swimac 2026, a unique open-water swimming event on the swift-moving Torne River between Finland and Sweden.

Starting from the Finnish shore at 12:05 a.m., participants not only swam across the border between Sweden and Finland, but also crossed the Arctic Circle and an international time zone. Because the event begins just after midnight and crosses into a time zone one hour earlier, swimmers who complete the 3-kilometer course in under 55 minutes technically finish the race the day before they begin.

The 2026 event included 168 participants in the crisp, 62.5-degree river. Chris participated with his daughter, Caroline, who swam at Brockport Central and collegiately at Nazareth University. Chris finished the race in 34:45, placing eighth in the men's division, while Caroline finished in 33:11, taking third place in the women's division.

Chris Martin captained the 1984 Lake Shore Central varsity swim team, leading the Eagle Rays during a standout high school career.

As a member of the LSC Eagle Rays varsity swim team, Chris ranked in the top 10 in the section and top five in the Erie County Interscholastic Conference (ECIC) in the breaststroke. Upon graduating from Lake Shore, he attended the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where he majored in imaging science and captained the Tiger Shark varsity swim team. Chris graduated from RIT as the school record holder in the 100-yard breaststroke and as a member of the record-setting 400-yard medley relay team. During his tenure at RIT, he earned Athlete of the Week honors on multiple occasions, including twice as a senior.

A portrait of Chris Martin from the 1984 Lake Shore Central Senior High School yearbook.

Chris graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Imaging Science and continued his education, receiving a Master of Science in Computer Science from RIT and a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology in 2007. A father of two adult sons, Liam and Ryan, as well as his daughter and swim partner Caroline, Chris is a Director of Program Management at L3Harris Technologies in Rochester, where he resides with his wife, Kim.

"The Lake Shore community congratulates our Lake Shore Eagle alumnus on participating in this truly unique experience under the midnight sun," said Phil Johnson, Superintendent of Lake Shore Central School District. "We are so proud to see our graduates carrying that lifelong dedication and Lake Shore spirit across the globe."

"Chris is an incredible inspiration to our students," added Daryl Besant, Director of Athletics at Lake Shore Central School District. "His commitment to taking on a challenge like this proves that the grit and passion for athletics built here at Lake Shore can last a lifetime."

For more information regarding this story or to schedule an interview with staff, please contact Jim Montour at (716) 259-5918 or communications@lscsd.org. 🦅💚