Chloë McCardel to attempt historic world first non-stop 4x Channel swim

News outlets locally and around the world shared the news yesterday that elite Australian ultra-marathon swimmer, Chloë McCardel, will within weeks attempt the greatest endurance challenge on the planet – a non-stop quadruple crossing of the English Channel.

Pesel & Carr helped organise the press conference at Kerferd Rd Pier to announce Chloe’s historic attempt.

Widely considered impossible, no other swimmer has ever even attempted a quadruple crossing, let alone succeeded.

The 136km torturous odyssey is likely to take at least two full days and nights, with a weather dependent start date within weeks (between 29 August and 2 September).

Arguably the greatest ultra-marathon swimmer in history, McCardel, 32, is at the pinnacle of her career, having set records for the world’s longest unassisted ocean swim and the world’s most Channel crossings in a season.

She has also broken the legendary Des Renford’s longstanding Australian record for the most English Channel crossings, having crossed a total of 21 times to date – including becoming the first Australian to complete a triple crossing in 2015. Only three other ultra-marathon swimmers in history have completed a triple non-stop crossing and, barring McCardel, the most recent to succeed was 27 years ago.

“When I completed the triple, I was utterly exhausted – nauseous and hypothermic, with my swimming costume hanging off me because I’d burnt through so much body fat. Getting through all that, then turning around to swim another crossing will be absolute torture but I’m determined to do it.”

The swim is the equivalent of 2,720 laps of an Olympic swimming pool, with the added challenges of extremely cold water, strong currents, wind and weather.

McCardel is optimistic about her chances, and has been swimming 110-140km in training a week, including extended swims in ocean water as cold as 8 degrees, 20 hour non-stop night swims in 15 degree ocean water with three degree air temperature and pool interval training work the same intensity as any Olympic athlete in their peak training.

“I am in the best shape of my career, injury free and, I believe, physically and mentally prepared.

“I’ve reached all my original goals. Now, it’s about pushing the boundaries of the sport and the boundaries of the human spirit. What can our body and mind achieve? Do we really know our potential? Maybe we can go further. I want to find out. If successful, this could dramatically alter the perception of what the human mind and body can achieve in such harsh, inhospitable conditions.”

The swim can be followed on her GPS Tracker, which will update every ten minutes throughout the crossing – www.facebook.com/ChloeMcCardel.

We wish her the best of luck in this attempt, she’s an inspirational woman and athlete. Go Chloe!