Swimmers
A collection of inspiring stories, challenges, and records celebrating women who take on the water — from cold dips and wild swims to record-breaking channel crossings and ultra-endurance feats.
Cold Water, Wild, and Open Water Swimming
Cold water and wild swimming have become increasingly popular among women for both their physical and mental benefits — offering connection, community, and courage. Many swimmers take this passion further into long-distance open-water challenges that push human limits.
English Channel
The English Channel is one of the world’s most iconic open-water swims, covering 21 miles (34 km) between England and France.
-
First woman to swim the English Channel — Gertrude Ederle (USA) — age 20 — 1926
-
Record holder for the most English Channel crossings (44 swims) — Chloë McCardel (Australia) — 13 October 2021.
Oceans Seven Challenge
The Oceans Seven includes the North Channel, Cook Strait, Molokaʻi Channel, English Channel, Catalina Channel, Tsugaru Strait, and the Strait of Gibraltar.
-
North Channel – between Ireland and Scotland, 21 miles (34 km)
-
Cook Strait – between New Zealand’s North and South Islands, 16 miles (26 km)
-
Molokaʻi Channel – between Molokaʻi and Oʻahu, Hawaii, 27 miles (44 km)
-
English Channel – between England and France, 21 miles (34 km)
-
Catalina Channel – between Santa Catalina Island and Los Angeles, 20 miles (32 km)
-
Tsugaru Strait – between Honshu and Hokkaido, Japan, 12 miles (20 km)
-
Strait of Gibraltar – between Spain and Morocco, 10 miles (16 km)
-
First woman to complete the Oceans Seven — Anna-Carin Nordin (Sweden) — 8 July 2013
-
First person from a landlocked country to complete the Oceans Seven — Abhejali Bernardová (Czech Republic) — 2018 — Tough Girl Podcast
You can find a full list of Oceans Seven swimmers on the LongSwims Database
Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim
The Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim is an annual open water swimming event between the continents Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait — Istanbul, Turkey
Noted for its unique route connecting two continents, attracting women open-water swimmers from around the world.
-
Setting of the women’s course record — Beren Kayrak (Turkey) — time of 40:50:35 — 2006
Ultra Endurance Challenges
Running the Coast of Great Britain
-
The first woman and youngest person to run around the entire 5,000-mile coastline of Great Britain — Elise Downing (UK) — 2021
Walking the Coast of Great Britain
-
Completed an 11,000-mile walk around the coast of Great Britain — Karen Penny (UK) — 2020
Pond to Peak Challenge
The Pond to Peak, also known as Peak and Pond, is one of the most demanding endurance challenges in the world — combining the English Channel swim with a Mount Everest summit.
Only 14 people have ever completed it, including two women:
-
Anna Brown (Andorra) – First Woman to complete the challenge
-
🏔️ Everest Summit: 22 May 2018
-
🌊 English Channel Swim: 16 September 2021 (13 hrs 52 mins)
-
-
Jessica Hepburn (UK) – First British Woman to complete the challenge
-
🌊 English Channel Swim: 2 September 2015 (17 hrs 44 mins)
-
🏔️ Everest Summit: 14 May 2022
-
The Calendar Year Peak and Pond is the solo completion of a crossing of the English Channel and a summit of Mount Everest by a single individual within one calendar year or over 12-month period. - No woman has completed this challenge as of yet.
