Meet Jeannie &
Eternal Optimist
On September 14, 2022, at the “mid-life” age of 56, I completed the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, which included 29 miles around Manhattan (2019), 21 miles across the English Channel (2021), and 21 miles across Catalina Channel (2022). In doing so, I became the 287th person to complete the Triple Crown, and very proudly, the 112th woman.
When I crossed the English Channel at 55 in 14:55 hours on September 6, 2021, I became the 707th woman since Gertrude Ederle crossed in 1926 to swim from Dover, England to Wissant, France. I was also 20 years older than the average successful English Channel swimmer. What a fantastically surreal and great-to-be-alive experience that was! In fact, my business, Eternal Optimist, spawned from my English Channel swim. Read on!
Professionally, I had a career in higher education information technology for 20 years, culminating in several high-level leadership positions. In 2010, I listened to my heart and took a leap of faith in reinventing myself as a swim coach, returning to what I loved doing in high school and college. One might say I have always been called to coach swimming. During this second career, I have coached age group, collegiate, master’s, and open water swimming. I began private technique coaching in 2010 and have had the honor of coaching both state and national level athletes, as well as many triathletes, Ironmen/women, and marathon and open water swimmers.
After returning from the English Channel in 2021, I founded a business named for my beloved English Channel team: Deb Henson, Susan Bianchi, and Kathy Wingert, the Eternal Optimists. Believe it or not, marathon swimming is not a solo sport. We rely on trusty and skilled crew to help us get to our destination. They fed me, cared for me, and encouraged me across that channel, as well as innumerable other tasks prior to and during the swim. Most importantly, they are wonderful and selfless friends of mine who shared the adventure of a lifetime with me. In another twist of fate, when I booked my pilot and boat, I had no idea that the boat was named the Optimist. Fate. And the rest is history. Eternal Optimist, LLC is now a motivational speaking and swim coaching business located in Mechanicsburg, PA.
Lastly, I hold a Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Business Analysis from Penn State and a Master of Science in Business Administration from Bucknell University.
