The English Channel is one of the greatest challenges in open water? Combining physical stamina, mental determination and courage in uncertain waves. Each swimmer, male or female, has his or her own story to tell, and each crossing tells a tale that will go down in the annals of swimming history.
Discover the impressive feats of swimmers who have made history, from breaking records to making exceptional crossings, performances that will continue to inspire future generations.
The English Channel
In open water, it's a legendary event that separates England from France. Its shortest length is 33.3 km, and it always runs in the direction England-France. Swimmers set off from Dover to reach Cap Gris-Nez on the French coast.
Some great records
Matthew Webb: The first English Channel hero
On August 24 and 25, 1875, the British Matthew Webb became the first man to swim across the English Channel. In 21 hours and 45 minutes, he paved the way for countless other swimmers by breaking a record that has gone down in swimming history. It was a monumental feat for its time, a real tour de force in unknown and dreaded conditions.
Florence Chadwick: The first woman to conquer the English Channel
In 1950, the American Florence Chadwick made history by becoming the first woman to swim the English Channel. Not content with this first, she achieved the feat again in 1951, but this time in both ways, setting a breathtaking record for the time. Her courage and perseverance made her an open-water legend.
Alison Streeter: The undisputed queen of the English Channel
Nicknamed “Queen of the English Channel”, Alison Streeter is the swimmer with the most English Channel crossings. With 43 crossings to her credit, her tenacity and expertise make her a key figure in the world of open-water swimming.
Did you know?
Data varies from site to site, but only a few thousand swimmers over the last 150 years have managed to cross the English Channel! Quite an adventure, among them, Harald Eltvedt, one of the co-founders of the OpenSwim app.
Andreas Waschburger: The men's record time
On September 8, 2023, Germany's Andreas Waschburger made history by setting the record for the fastest men's crossing of the English Channel, with a time of 6 hours 45 minutes. A breathtaking performance which shows that, even after more than 140 years of history, records continue to fall.
Yvetta Hlaváčová: women's record for the fastest crossing
On the women's side, the Czech Yvetta Hlaváčová holds the record for fastest crossing the English Channel, in 7 hours and 25 minutes in 2006. Her feat made history and continues to be a model for open-water swimmers.
Sue Oldham: age has no limits
Sue Oldham is the oldest swimmer to have crossed the English Channel. Accomplishing this feat at 65, an age when many think such adventures are behind them. In 17 hours, she proved that age is just a number, and that there is no limit to passion and perseverance.
Tom Gregory: the youngest ever to conquer the English Channel
In 1988, Tom Gregory became the youngest swimmer ever to cross the English Channel, at just 11 years of age. The feat was accomplished in just under 12 hours, an impressive feat for such a young swimmer, proving that determination and willpower can overcome age. His record will never be beaten, since 2000 exists an age limit of 16 for anyone wishing to attempt this crossing.
Sylvain Estadieu: the butterfly man
Frenchman Sylvain Estadieu wrote another chapter in the record books by becoming the first man to swim the English Channel in butterfly, an impressive challenge. He achieved this feat in 16 hours and 42 minutes, a time that testifies to the extraordinary endurance required to perform this type of swim in such an environment.
All these records testify not only to the incredible physical strength of these swimmers, but also to their unshakeable determination to push human limits. Each of these feats, whether by the youngest, the oldest or the fastest, inspires generations of swimmers to dare the unthinkable and dream bigger.