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WPRI 12 News
FUN 107 radio host diving headfirst into annual Buzzards Bay Swim
By Sarah DoironMike Montecalvo,
14 days ago
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — Chris Arsenault, better known as “ Gazelle ” on FUN 107, has been hosting the Buzzards Bay Swim afterparty at Fort Phoenix Beach for years.
But for the first time, he’s all in.
Instead of waving swimmers across the finish line, Arsenault will be taking part in the 1.2-mile journey across the bay himself.
“I’m always talking about the cause, but this year I wanted to be a part of the cause,” he said.
The annual open water swim, which starts in New Bedford and ends in Fairhaven, is organized by the Buzzards Bay Coalition — a nonprofit dedicated to restoring and protecting the bay.
Arsenault said that while he’s always heavily supported the cause, he’s never actually gotten his toes wet.
“I can swim,” he said. “I’ve never done any race or distance swimming before, and I’ve been training and preparing.”
He said gearing up for the swim hasn’t been easy.
“It’s been cold,” Arsenault said. “In the winter, [the water was] 45 [degrees], which is very unsafe if you don’t have a wet suit on.”
Arsenault told 12 News he already has a plan for his swim.
“Half of it will be freestyle and half will be backstroke, that way I can give my lungs a nice breather in between,” he explained.
Arsenault, who’s a former rugby player, said it was a health scare four years ago that made him want to get in shape.
“I had some issues with my heart,” Arsenault recalled. “I had a minor heart attack and it’s been lingering in the back of my mind.”
“It was scary and eye-opening. I didn’t see it coming,” he continued. “The last thing I want is for PTSD to take over my life, and I know swimming is very good for the heart.”
FUN 107’s Maddie Levine said Arsenault is simply practicing what he preaches.
“He always talks about the importance of physical and mental health,” Levine said. “The fact he’s doing this swim is helping both.”
Buzzards Bay Coalition’s Nina Chomak said the world needs more people like Arsenault who want to make a difference.
“What’s really important about the swim, in particular, is that we’ve made some real progress over the last 30 years,” Chomak said. “The harbor is cleaner because of the funds that have been raised directly through the Buzzards Bay Swim.”
Arsenault told 12 News he’s just happy to give back.
“The journey so far has been the most rewarding,” he said. “I want to finish, and I’m going to finish.”
The outer New Bedford Harbor will be closed for the duration of the swim, and participants will be supported the entire time by safety personnel. The Buzzards Bay Swim will take place June 22 at 7:30 a.m.
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