SOLVED. Fictional novel with an early chapter about a young boy (the main protagonist) who sees a strongman / endurance swimmer in the sea near his town, possibly pulling something behind him?

[Jordan]

From what I remember the swimmer is like an old-school strongman who does these amazing feats of endurance and all the town is gathered to watch him including the boy. I can’t for the life of me think what the book is, partly because I feel like it goes off on a tangent from here and this chapter is more character building than anything to do with the main plotline? Any help would be appreciated, I’ve been wracking my brain for days!

[Jordan]

I think typing this out was good therapy, as I'm now almost certain this is from 'Before the Fall' by Noah Hawley - can anyone confirm?... Thanks

[Rachel]

Yes, it's Before the Fall It's what inspires the main character to get into endurance swimming, which comes in handy when he is on a plane that crashes into the sea.

[Fiona]

Yes, definitely sounds like Before the Fall.

[Dan]

Definitely "Before the Fall by Hawley," excellent novel, the Jack LaLanne references cycle all through the book as the emotional and formative backdrop for the main character who idolized JL and thus could save a child no spoiler, since that starts the book.