Channel swimming records

King & Queen of the Channel

• King of the Channel: Kevin Murphy

  34 successful solo crossings

• Queen of the Channel: Alison Streeter

  43 successful solo crossings

Speed/Time Records

•  
• Male
• Female

• Fastest solo swim

  view record history
• Fastest male solo swim: Trent Grimsey

  6 hours, 55 minutes
  on 8 September 2012

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• Fastest female solo swim: Yvetta Hlavacova

  7 hours, 25 minutes, 15 seconds
  on 5 August 2006

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• Fastest France to England

• Fastest man, France to England: Richard Davey

  8 hours, 5 minutes
  on 8 September 1988

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• Fastest woman, France to England: Alison Streeter

  8 hours, 48 minutes
  on 20 September 1988

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• Fastest two-way solo

• Fastest male two-way solo: Philip Rush

  16 hours, 10 minutes
  on 15/16 August 1987

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• Fastest female two-way solo: Susie Maroney

  17 hours, 14 minutes
  on 22 July 1991

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• Fastest three-way solo

• Fastest male three-way solo: Philip Rush

  28 hours, 21 minutes
  on 15/16 August 1987

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• Fastest female three-way solo: Alison Streeter

  34 hours, 40 minutes
  on 1/2 August 1990

•  
• England to France
• France to England

• Fastest standard relay

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• Fastest standard relay, England to France: US National Swim Team

  6 hours, 52 minutes
  in 1990

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• Fastest standard relay, France to England: US National Swim Team

  7 hours, 26 minutes
  in 1990

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• Multi-way relays

• Fastest 2-way relay swim: US National Swim Team

  14 hours, 18 minutes
  in 1990

  view record history
•  
• Fastest 3-way relay swim: Sport City Mexico

  30 hours, 7 minutes
  on 24/25 August 2007

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•  
• Fastest 4-way relay swim: Sport City Mexico

  42 hours, 11 minutes
  on 24/25 August 2007

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• Fastest special category relays

• Fastest 2 person relay: Scotland Relay

  9 hours, 22 minutes
  in 2005

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• Fastest 3 person relay: The Patriots

  9 hours, 39 minutes, 30 seconds
  on 15 September 2011

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•  
• Fastest 4 person relay: Travessia Balkis Canal da Mancha

  8 hours, 22 minutes
  in 2011

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• Fastest 5 person relay: Team Software Australia

  8 hours, 32 minutes
  in 2001

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•  
• Fastest 7 person relay: Killerwhales

  8 hours, 25 minutes
  in 2013

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• Fastest 8 person relay: YWCA (Otters)

  11 hours, 59 minutes
  on 30 July 2007

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• Longest Swims

• Longest solo one-way swim: Jackie Cobell

  28 hours, 44 minutes
  on 24/25 July 2010

  view record history
• Longest solo swim: Sarah Thomas

  54 hours, 10 minutes
  on 15-17 September 2019

  view record history

Age Records

•  
• Male
• Female

• Youngest swimmer

• Youngest person to swim the Channel: Thomas Gregory

  11 years 336 days
  6 September 1988

• Youngest female to swim the Channel: Samantha Druce

  12 years 118 days
  18 August 1983

•  
• A minimum age limit of 16 years has since been introduced for solo swims.

• Oldest swimmer

• Oldest person to swim the Channel: Otto Thaning

  73 years 177 days
  6 September 2014

• Oldest female to swim the Channel: Linda Ashmore

  71 years 303 days
  21 August 2018

• Oldest British swimmer

• Oldest British person to swim the Channel: Roger Allsopp

  70 years 147 days
  30 August 2011

• Oldest British female to swim the Channel: Linda Ashmore

  71 years 303 days
  21 August 2018

• Youngest relay team

• Youngest relay team: Bristol English Channel Swimmers

  12 years 118 days
  3 September 2010

Firsts

•  
• Male
• Female

• First Channel swim

• First Channel swim: Matthew Webb

  24 August 1875
  21 hours, 45 minutes

• First female Channel swim: Gertrude Ederle

  6 August 1926
  14 hours, 39 minutes

• First two-way swim

• First two-way solo swim: Antonio Abertondo

  20/21 September 1961
  43 hours, 10 minutes

• First female two-way solo swim: Cynthia Nicholas

  7 September 1977
  19 hours, 55 minutes

• First three-way swim

• First three-way solo swim: Jon Erikson

  11/12 August 1981
  38 hours, 27 minutes

• First female three-way solo swim: Alison Streeter

  1/2 August 1990
  34 hours, 40 minutes

• First four-way swim

• -
• Fisrt four-way solo swim: Sarah Thomas

  15-17 September 2019
  54 hours, 10 minutes

• First twins to make simultaneous solo swims

• Sarah Hunt and Carole Hunt

  6 August 1988
  9 hours, 29 minutes

• The only Belgium to England relay

• The only Belgium to England relay: Royal Air Force

  1995
  27 hours, 56 minutes