In August, Goldberg will make the swim with a clear objective in mind: to be the first openly transgender person to swim across Lake Ontario.

The swim is 52 kilometres and will take between 20 to 26 hours. Goldberg knows it’s is no easy task, but he’s motivated.

“It’s really important for me to be that person who is visible doing this — and for my swim to be a piece of visibility and advocacy so that trans people can look at athletics in general … and go, ‘Oh, this is for us too,’” Goldberg told TorontoToday.

Goldberg’s swim comes at a time where the involvement of transgender people in sports is under attack by some conservative politicians, both in the United States and on home soil.

In April, Goldberg created a GoFundMe page to support his swim and mission for trans visibility. He aims to raise $12,500 to pay for safety boats and an experienced navigation crew, a medical safety team, nutrition and health supplies, weather monitoring services and training support.

Alongside his athletic effort, the page says Goldberg’s open water swim will display the “resilience required to navigate the world as a transgender person.”

He’s hopeful that his swim will “show transgender youth that there are no boundaries to what they can achieve.”

All money raised beyond the fundraising goal will go to LGBT YouthLine, a peer support organization for LGBTQ+ youth across Ontario.

Goldberg is a former peer volunteer with the group. He said working with the organization was a big part of his life and gender transition.