A Local Ironman Athlete Shares Her Story
In a powerful display of grit, and true athletic spirit, local Ironman athlete, Rebecca Louise King went above and beyond in a recent open water swim, towing an Ainsley’s Angel participant from start to finish. I’m sharing this to shine a light on an inspiring act of inclusion and the powerful story behind it.
The Challenge
On September 14, New Orleans athlete, King embarked on a remarkable challenge—towing an Ainsley’s Angels participant in a life boat during the "Swim Across the Bay" open water race. The two-mile, point-to-point swim stretched from the Henderson Point shoreline to Bay St. Louis Beach, featuring 170 registered swimmers, including three teams towing Ainsley’s Angels riders.
King was partnered with 29-year-old Deaven Hatchcox of Covington, a high-functioning woman with Down syndrome. While Hatchcox had participated in other road races before, this was her first swim event—and a historic one at that. To everyone’s surprise and delight, the duo finished first.
Photo credit to Susan Walker
“When I first started, I was feeling good,” said King, who is currently training for her 10th Full Ironman Triathlon scheduled in November in Florida. “Then I realized I was not moving. It was like we were in an endless pool because the current was so bad. So, I had to dig deep and re-think my body’s swimming direction. I kept thinking -what stroke will help us move?”
While Hatchcox was cheering her on, King changed her stroke from freestyle to her least favorite, breast stroke. “I am doing my worst and slowest stroke,” said King. “Even though I was so fatigued, I thought that someone else is relying on me to cross the bay and we are going to finish it.”
Photo credit to Fleet Feet
Photo credit to Fleet Feet
With extra effort and concentration, King and her partner, Hatchcox, made it to the shore and crossed the finish line in first place.
“I have done open water swims before, but never pulling a young adult in a life raft,” said King. “It was such a humbling experience. It wasn’t about me anymore, it was about her.”
As a nationally-recognized non-profit with a chapter in the Greater New Orleans area, Ainsley’s Angels promotes inclusion in endurance sports by pairing able-bodied athletes with individuals who have physical and developmental disabilities—typically in road races using specialized racing wheelchairs. However, this event marked the first time Ainsley’s Angels of America participated in an open water swim in this region. Instead of wheelchairs, athletes towed inflatable life rafts carrying their teammates with disabilities.
Photo credit to Susan Walker
The event also represented a new beginning for Fleet Feet of Metairie, a local running and walking specialty store, which took over organizing duties this year. The race was held as a charity event, generating donations to support the cause and highlighting the power of inclusion and community spirit. Edina Walker, owner of Fleet Feet, will formally hand over a check ($2,750) to Ainsley's Angels in the next couple of weeks. “This is the first time that Ainsley’s Angels participated in an open water swim,” said Walker. “Rebecca finished in about one hour and a half. It was incredible because she smoked some of the other regular swimmers.”
The Training
For King, swimming is more than a passion — it’s her career and lifelong pursuit, despite undergoing two shoulder reconstruction surgeries, one in high school and another in college. “My work, my hobby, my love are all the same thing,” emphasized King. “Swimming is my life course and there’s no quitting.”
To train for towing Hatchcox in the open water swim, King devised a creative method—dragging a parachute behind her during pool practice to simulate the resistance. “You’re pulling somebody in a life jacket. It’s like you have to be the motor and control the steering,” added King. At 45 years old, King was swimming no less than a mile with the parachute at the pool. Her focus was not necessarily time, but distance. “Time doesn’t matter,” said King. “swimming distance was most important. The parachute helped with this extra drag tied to me.”
In the final weeks of training for the Ironman in Florida, King continues to push herself—running in the mornings before work, and cycling and swimming in the pool during weekday afternoons. “We are in the heat of training,” said King. “But, I needed this emotionally and mentally to reassure myself that I can do it. I wanted to give hope to someone else and promote inclusion. She helped me out when we were stuck by cheering me on. And together, we were successful.”
