As many of us (me included lately!) struggle with motivation at times to even complete 8-week fitness challenges that we signed up for to ‘get fit for summer’, how’s this for motivation!
Legendary Aussie swimmer, Chloë McCardel has successfully completed her 44th swim of the English Channel, setting a new world record for number of times the Channel has been crossed.
The previous world record (43 crossings of the English Channel) was held by Britain’s Alison Streeter since 2004, which McCardel equalled on 7 October 2021.
Her 44th crossing makes McCardel the new ‘Queen of the English Channel’.
McCardel set off from Dover in the UK at 2pm AEDT on Wednesday and crossed the finish line at Cape Gris Nez in France just after midnight AEDT – it took her just over 10 hours to complete the record-breaking swim (reportedly her swim time is currently under review by officials).
Ecstatic to have finally broken the world record, McCardel says this she now feels like her “Channel journey is complete after 12 years”.
“And it feels great,” she said after her swim.
Describing the conditions, McCardel said they were “very favourable and the sun even came out, which is rare for October in England”.
“I was concerned my chest infection might affect my swim, but I felt really good,” McCardel said.
“Aside from some 1-metre waves earlier, the last few hours were very flat, so I got to just enjoy the swim and soak it all up.
“I have had immense support in Australia. I want to thank everyone across the country who has supported me.
“I hope to be an inspiration to anyone who wants to set big goals or is working hard to achieve things.”
And what an inspiration she is!
McCardel, also a motivational speaker, is set to return to Australia in November where she hopes to use her achievement to inspire others.
“For now, I get to share my story and soak it all in.
“In the future I want to look beyond marathon swimming, keep coaching others to swim the English Channel, and do more motivational speaking back home in Australia.
“I only learnt to swim at the age of 11, and now at 36 I have broken the record and swum the English Channel more times than anyone in the world. I really want to inspire young people, especially girls, and show them that anything is possible,” McCardel said.
oh my gosia 