French Creek Racing, an open-water competitive organization, continues to change lives as a year-round haven for open-water swimmers, writes J.F. Pirro for Main Line Today. 

One of these is 66-year-old Madelaine Sayko, who is a volunteer and club ambassador. Sayko spent her career in organizational management and currently works for Main Line Unitarian Church in Devon. 

She joined French Creek Racing during the pandemic which has been a life-altering experience for her ever since. 

When she first started swimming in the Schuylkill River, she was terrified. 

“I thought evil dead people were going to reach up and pull me under,” she recalled. “Now, I don’t think that at all. No limits. One guy here is 82; one woman’s 73. They’re fantastic swimmers.” 

French Creek Racing was founded 11 years ago by John Kenny, a professional triathlete and a five-time U.S. national open-water champion. The club’s members take part in triathlons and other major events. The races that get organized by the club can draw up to 300 participants. 

Currently, the organization has around 20 to 30 regulars. It also offers lessons for novices and regimented practices. 

Read more about French Creek Racing in Main Line Today. 

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