Thrice The Challenge - The Who's Who Of Marathon Swimming

The Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming club is an exclusive one - only 34 members - each of whom has completed the English Channel, the Catalina Channel and the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim.

These incredible marathon swimmers include the Who's Who of Marathon Swimming:


1. Allison Streeter (UK)
2. Taranath Narayan Shenoy (India)
3. Rick Barthels (USA)
4. Bob West (USA)
5. Peter Urrea (USA) (see photo above)
6. Carol Sing (USA)
7. Nick Olmos-Lau (Mexico)
8. T. Scott Coleman (USA)
9. Rebecca Jackman (USA)
10. Kevin Murphy (UK)
11. Kathleen Wilson (USA)
12. Forrest Nelson (USA)
13. Andrew Hewitt (USA)
14. David Blanke (USA)
15. Elizabeth Fry (USA)
16. Marcia Cleveland (USA)
17. Bill Hoehn (USA)
18. Sally Minty-Gravett (Jersey Island, UK)
19. James Pittar (Australia)
20. Scott Richards (USA)
21. Andrew "Alan" Voisard (USA)
22. Tina Neil (USA)
23. Rendy Lynn Opdycke (USA)
24. Michelle Davidson (USA)
25. Michelle Macy (USA)
26. Tom Hecker (USA)
27. Erica Moffett (USA)
28. Nancy Steadman-Martin (USA)
29. Michelle Davidson (USA)
30. Michael Miller (USA)
31. Nick Adams (UK)
32. Elaine Kornbau Howley (USA)
33. Antonio Argüelles (Mexico)
34. Stephen Autry (USA)

Individual Medley Records In The English Channel

The English Channel was first successfully crossed by Captain Matthew Webb who swam breaststroke in 21 hours 45 minutes.

The fastest male crossing was done by Petar Stoychev who crossed in 6 hours 57 minutes 50 seconds. The fastest female Channel crossing record is held by Yvetta Hlavacova of the Czech Republic in 7 hours 25 minutes.

The fastest butterfly crossing was done by Julie Bradshaw of the U.K. in 14 hours 18 minutes in 2002. The fastest breaststroke crossing was done by Frederick Jacques of Belgium in 13 hours 31 minutes in 2005. The fastest backstroke crossing was done was American Tina Neill in 13 hours 22 minutes.

Photo of Captain Matthew Webb.

Back in the Catalina Channel

Catalina Channel Swimming Federation reported that Tina Neill, a former All-America from the University of California Davis, completed a 10 hours 37 minutes crossing of the Catalina Channel doing backstroke. Neill, who did a double crossing 3 weeks ago, also crossed the English Channel doing backstroke in 2005 when she finished in 13 hours 22 minutes. Back in her home state of Minnesota, the Governor declared her swim day, Tina Neill Day, as a great tribute for her hard work.

Copyright © 2008 by World Open Water Swimming Association