Marathon swimmer Tony Lillios accomplished a challenge that had been on his mind for 15 years—swimming the entire length of Lake Tahoe from South Tahoe to North Tahoe. Tony joins Sarah Johns on 2 Plus You Nevada to share how he transformed a longtime “someday” goal into an extraordinary endurance achievement and what it took physically and mentally to cross one of the country’s most iconic alpine lakes.
What was expected to be a roughly 12-hour swim turned into a grueling 15-hour journey after Tony encountered significant swells beginning just an hour into the crossing. Starting at 10:30 at night, Tony relied on months of preparation, cold-water acclimation, a coach and a dedicated support crew to keep moving forward. He explains how breaking the enormous challenge into smaller sections helped him manage the mental side of the swim and why there eventually came a moment when he had to stop worrying about everything around him and simply swim.
At 57, Tony also shares an inspiring perspective on age, training and pushing personal limits. He doesn’t view getting older as a reason to stop pursuing difficult goals—instead, experience and a stronger mental game can become advantages. His Lake Tahoe accomplishment was built through a year of progressive training that eventually reached approximately 40,000 yards and 14–15 hours of swimming per week. And Lake Tahoe isn’t the finish line: Tony is now preparing for an even bigger goal—swimming the English Channel next year, with a possible swim around Manhattan along the way.
🚨 Segment Highlights:
🏊 Swimming the Length of Lake Tahoe
• Tony Lillios swam from South Tahoe to North Tahoe
• The challenge had been on his “someday” list for 15 years
• A year of commitment and preparation turned the idea into reality
🌊 15 Hours in Lake Tahoe
• Tony began the swim at 10:30 at night
• Rough swells developed approximately one hour into the crossing
• A swim expected to take 12 hours ultimately took approximately 15 hours
🧠 The Mental Side of Endurance
• Tony divided the massive swim into smaller, manageable sections
• Focusing on each individual stage helped make the challenge feel achievable
• During a difficult point, his focus became simple: just keep swimming
💪 Breaking Barriers at 57
• Tony adjusts his training and recovery as he gets older
• Experience and mental strength can provide advantages in endurance events
• He believes age presents different challenges—not necessarily limitations
📈 One Year of Training & Preparation
• Tony committed to the Lake Tahoe swim approximately one year in advance
• Training eventually reached about 40,000 yards per week
• A coach, structured plan and gradual progression helped prepare him for the challenge
🤝 The Team Behind the Swim
• Completing a marathon swim requires much more than one swimmer
• Tony relied on his boat, kayaker and support crew throughout the crossing
• Finishing safely made the accomplishment a victory for the entire team
🌍 Next Challenge: The English Channel
• Lake Tahoe is part of Tony’s path toward another major endurance goal
• He plans to attempt the English Channel next year
• A potential swim around Manhattan could become another step in his preparation
🌐 Follow Tony Lillios’ Journey:
Visit: https://lillios.com/
Follow Tony’s endurance journey, learn more about his upcoming challenges and connect with his work as he prepares for the English Channel.
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