Lake Geneva, a body of water that is both inspiring and full of diverse activities, has seen and still sees many personalities live out their passions here. The ASL pays tribute here to six women, past and present, who have been inspired by Lake Geneva.
- Frankenstein, the mythical novel about a young Genevan scientist, Victor Frankenstein, who creates a living being from dead flesh, was first published anonymously in 1818. But it was none other than 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 (𝟏𝟕𝟗𝟕-𝟏𝟖𝟓𝟏) who invented the story during a cold, rainy summer in Villa Diodati on the shores of Lake Geneva.
- 𝐄𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐭 (𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟑-𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟕), Swiss traveller, writer and photographer, is known for her adventurous life and her stories. Born in Geneva in 1903, 𝐄𝐥𝐥𝐚 grew up on the shores of Lake Geneva, at Le Creux-du Genthod. A keen sportswoman, she spent her summers taking advantage of the leisure activities on the lake, such as sailing, which would later enable her to take part in the Olympic regattas in 1924 as a representative of Switzerland. The only woman in the competition, she came 9th out of 17 competitors in the solo sailing category!
- In Switzerland, there are only 6 professional fisherwomen who make a living from this profession. 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐚 is one of them, and it was at the age of 40 that she began her apprenticeship for love of the lake. Originally from the Czech Republic, the harshness of the work and the French language didn't hold her back from going all the way and passing the exams. "Being on the lake means happiness, tranquillity and freedom. It's another world, and that's where I feel good.
- A biologist, ecotoxicologist and lecturer at the University of Lausanne, 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐞̀𝐯𝐫𝐞, is a specialist in lake waters and has directed her research into assessing the risks of mixtures of chemical substances in water, such as pesticides, medicines, cosmetics and so on. A chemical cocktail that 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐞̀𝐯𝐫𝐞 has been studying for over 20 years.
- A Genevan of Swiss and Dutch origins, 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭 𝐄𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐠𝐞𝐫 has a passion for the deep and was introduced to freediving in Lake Geneva during her diving training. In 1999, 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭 beat the women's free immersion world record at the first Swiss freediving championships. "Paradoxically, when I come out of the water, I feel like I've just come back from a day in the mountains - I'm really oxygenated!
- Vaud native 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐳𝐳𝐢 is the first woman to swim the full 75km length of Lake Geneva on 24 August 2019. After a year of training, the 21-year-old swimmer succeeded in her challenge, setting off from Le Bouveret to reach the Pâquis baths in 30 hours and 18 minutes.
Information from :
Mary Shelley, https://www.tdg.ch/.../frankenstein-mythe-gene.../story/26403713
Ella Maillart, http://www.ellamaillart.ch/bio_fr.php
Romana Coufalova, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmGHeF76P8w
Nathalie Chèvre, https://blogs.letemps.ch/.../.../des-metaux-dans-le-fond-du-lac/
Brigit Ehrenbolger, https://www.letemps.ch/.../birgit-ehrenbolger-retient-souffle...
Flavie Capozzi, https://www.lenouvelliste.ch/.../traversee-du-leman-flavie-ca...
Photo credits :
Cover of the book "La vagabondes des mers" by Ella Maillart, 1991,
Mary Shelley, painter Samuel John Stump
