Ann Meraw first demonstrated her skill in marathon swimming at age ten when she swam the ten miles across Howe Sound, between Britannia Beach and McNab Creek, and back. She went on to fulfill her potential in a remarkable career spanning thirty years of marathon swimming.

She took part in the Toronto CNE Marathons in 1934 and 1936.

In 1938, Meraw swam from English Bay to Bowen Island, a distance of 14 miles in seven hours 14 minutes.

As a professional swimmer, Meraw set a total of seven world records in three marathons at Lake Okanagan held between 1956-58:

–In 1956, she swam 42 miles in 25 hours one minute, setting a women’s world record for endurance and distance.

–In 1957, she swam 32 miles in 16 hours 14 minutes, setting a speed record for women’s class and a speed record for open class.

–In 1958, she swam 55 miles in 32 hours 12 minutes, setting a distance and speed record for open class, a distance and speed record for women’s class, an endurance record for open class, and an endurance record for women’s class.

As a builder, she became the first female lifeguard in Canada in 1943, and inaugurated the “Water Babies” program that was the first of its kind in Canada. In addition, she coached and taught swimming for 35 years.