Lawrence Sets World Record in Long-Distance Swimming

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo., July 25. A 1984 Waterloo West High School graduate set a world record in long-distance swimming Saturday. Air Force Lt. Col. Tim Lawrence of the U.S. Air Force Academy's Department of Astronautical Engineering became the first American to swim the 14.8 nautical miles from Britain's Jersey Island to France. In the process, the Waterloo, Iowa native lowered the best overall time by more than three minutes to 8 hours, 21 minutes, 17 seconds. Colonel Lawrence is the sixth person in the world to successfully complete this long-distance swim solo.

The Waterloo native is Director of the Space Systems Research Center, at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. When not directing the Academy's satellite and rocketry research programs, Colonel Lawrence stays in shape by training for long-distance swims, such as the Jersey Island to France swim that he just finished. The colonel set off Saturday morning from La Coupe Point.

"The weather here can be so unstable," Colonel Lawrence said. "It started out with hellacious conditions, with torrential rain and downpour."

After about half a mile, the wind and tide aligned.

"Then it was a dead calm sea," Colonel Lawrence said. "All the long-water swims I've done have been in choppy waters, but the wind and tide were aligned until the last 3 miles. Then the tide turned and I had to fight my way in."

Weather is only one of the challenges long-distance swimmers face, making the trek from the British channel island to France. Swimmers cannot wear wetsuits, but water temperatures are between 59 and 64.5 degrees Fahrenheit (15-18 degrees Celsius) during June and July. Thus, a swimmer cannot switch to a backstroke to rest, as they must generate a continual amount of body heat. Hypothermia sets in when one's body temperature drops from the normal 98.4 degrees (37 degrees Celsius) to about 95 degrees (35 degrees Celsius).

"My training helped because I was swimming at 10,000 feet altitude in Colorado," Colonel Lawrence said. "But when I got here the water was warmer than what I trained in."

His training started with 6-8 hour swims in the lakes on the Academy. As the water temperatures warmed with the approach of summer, he migrated to lakes in Colorado's higher altitudes – first to Lake Wellington and then to Twin Lakes. For those swims, he would have a friend monitor his progress and be available to come to his aid if hypothermia or cramping should set in. Swimmers who attempt solo or relay long distance-swims from Jersey Island have similar safeguards, by setting off behind a guide boat. The boat crew provides navigation and monitors the swimmer's physical condition. At no time can the swimmer touch the boat, or they will be disqualified. Swimmers also take their nourishment en route in liquid form, tossed in containers from their guide boat.

"I use a high-carb mixture for swims, which by itself tastes a lot like liquid wheat," Colonel Lawrence said. "Near the end of my swim I wanted the mix with chocolate, but the boat crew denied me and told me to keep on swimming. I found out why once I got to the shore."

The boat crew knew exactly how close he was to setting a world record. After battling in the last few miles and setting foot on the western shore of France's Cherbourg peninsula, the colonel met 75 people with an American flag. Only then did he learn that he was the world record holder. The old record of 8 hours, 26 minutes and 28 seconds stood since 2005. Lawrence beat that record by five minutes to become the first American and only sixth person ever to complete the swim solo since it was first accomplished in 1966.

Colonel Lawrence's record also beats the best relay team times. Only four teams have completed the Jersey Island-France swim via relay. Sunday's swim is the latest in a long-distance swimming career, which includes completing two Ironman triathalons. Lawrence swam the English Channel in 1999. He became the first American to swim the 41 nautical miles around Jersey Island in 2002, and was the first American and second person ever to swim from the island of Vis to Split, Croatia.

"This is my last swim," Colonel Lawrence said.

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