{"id":443883,"date":"2020-08-13T16:01:57","date_gmt":"2020-08-13T23:01:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=443883"},"modified":"2020-08-13T18:59:17","modified_gmt":"2020-08-14T01:59:17","slug":"chloe-mccardel-set-to-break-english-channel-crossing-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/chloe-mccardel-set-to-break-english-channel-crossing-record\/","title":{"rendered":"Chlo\u00eb McCardel Set to Break English Channel Crossing Record"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ultra-marathon swimmer Chlo\u00eb McCardel<\/strong> is expected to leave British shores early Sunday morning (August 16) in her extraordinary quest to break the men\u2019s world record for the number of English Channel crossings.<\/p>\n

The Melbourne-raised Sydneysider, who has spent many months in Kent, UK, over the past decade, has already completed 34 crossings of the treacherous stretch of water, including three crossings in the past fortnight.<\/p>\n

Now level with the men\u2019s world record, which has stood since July 21, 2006, Chlo\u00eb should complete her 35th<\/sup> crossing in Cap Gris-Nez, near Calais, tomorrow night weather-permitting. The 34-kilometre crossing between England and France \u2013 the world\u2019s busiest shipping lane -is expected to take her around ten hours.<\/p>\n

She was recently granted an exemption to leave Australia under current COVID-19 restrictions to attempt the record-breaking swim.<\/p>\n

The 35-year-old elite athlete said: \u201cI am so honoured to be setting off knowing that I am doing this for Australia. I\u2019m hoping I can make everyone proud and inspire people back home.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m also sending my thoughts out to everyone impacted by the COVID pandemic, especially those who have been or are currently cooped up in their homes, sometimes in extremely challenging environments, especially those who are experiencing domestic violence.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany might think that what I do needs superhuman strength but at one point in my life I was very vulnerable and suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Endurance training has helped me through those challenging periods in my life. I hope my efforts will inspire others \u2013 whoever they are and whatever their circumstances \u2013 to stay strong and resilient in these difficult times.\u201d<\/p>\n

If successful on Sunday, Chlo\u00eb will move to second on the overall record list, behind retired English swimmer Alison Streeter MBE who has completed the crossing 43 times.<\/p>\n

Chlo\u00eb holds multiple world records for endurance swimming including the longest ever unassisted ocean swim<\/a> in the Bahamas in 2014 (124.4km).<\/p>\n

Chlo\u00eb McCardel Achievements:\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n