Solo Swim of the Year - 2019

MSF Solo Swim of the Year recognizes the most outstanding solo marathon swim of 2019.

Public nominations produced 17 nominees. MSF members and contributors voted to select five finalists. The final vote was open to any verified marathon swimmer.

Sarah Thomas (United States)

Four-way English Channel (England-France-England-France-England) – first. 132 km in 54 hours, 10 minutes on September 15-17, 2019. Ratified by Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation.

World record, longest open-water swim of a multi-way route. 38 years after first three-way (Jon Erikson), 58 years after first two-way (Antonio Abertondo), and 144 years after first one-way (Matthew Webb).


Finalists

Alphabetical by last name.

Cameron Bellamy (RSA)
Barbados to St. Lucia (first)
150 km in 56:55 on Sep-15*
Ratified by Barbados Amateur Swimming Association
* Non-standard equipment used: stinger suit

Sarah Ferguson (RSA)
Around Easter Island (first)
60 km in 19:08 on Mar-16
Ratified by Marathon Swimmers Federation (documentation)

Jessi Harewicz (CAN)
Strait of Georgia, Nanaimo to Vancouver (first)
59 km in 30:13 on Aug-26
Ratified by Marathon Swimmers Federation (documentation)

Becca Mann (USA)
“Maui Nui”: Maui-Molokai-Lanai-Maui (first)
58 km in 20:53 on Aug-19
Ratified by Hawaii Channel Swimming Association

Sarah Thomas (USA)
English Channel 4-way (first, and new world distance record for multi-way route)
132 km in 54:10 on Sep-17
Ratified by Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation