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Sarah Thomas: Woman first to swim Channel four times non-stop | Sarah Thomas: Woman first to swim Channel four times non-stop |
(32 minutes later) | |
An American woman has become the first person to swim the English Channel four times non-stop. | An American woman has become the first person to swim the English Channel four times non-stop. |
Sarah Thomas, 37, began the epic challenge in the early hours of Sunday and finished after more than 54 hours. | Sarah Thomas, 37, began the epic challenge in the early hours of Sunday and finished after more than 54 hours. |
The open water ultra marathon swimmer - who completed treatment for breast cancer a year ago - dedicated her swim to "all the survivors out there". | The open water ultra marathon swimmer - who completed treatment for breast cancer a year ago - dedicated her swim to "all the survivors out there". |
Ms Thomas was pushed back by strong tides on the final leg but finished on Tuesday at about 06:30 BST. | Ms Thomas was pushed back by strong tides on the final leg but finished on Tuesday at about 06:30 BST. |
Speaking to the BBC after she came ashore, Ms Thomas said: "I just can't believe we did it." | |
She said she planned to sleep for the day, adding: "I'm pretty tired right now". | |
Swimmer Lewis Pugh said in a tweet: "Just when we think we've reached the limit of human endurance, someone shatters the records." | |
The hardest part was dealing with the salt water which left her throat and mouth sore, she revealed. | |
But she added: "My crew was really great about helping me out and keeping me strong." | |
"Every length had something that was really hard about it. Coming back from France the last time was definitely hard. It took forever and the current pushed me all over. | |
"I got stung in the face by a jellyfish and it wasn't as cold as I thought it might be but it was still chilly." | |
Only four swimmers had previously crossed the Channel three times without stopping. Before Ms Thomas no-one had ever completed a fourth leg. | Only four swimmers had previously crossed the Channel three times without stopping. Before Ms Thomas no-one had ever completed a fourth leg. |
Last year she had treatment for breast cancer and her support team said she "used the swimming as her means of coping with the treatment". | Last year she had treatment for breast cancer and her support team said she "used the swimming as her means of coping with the treatment". |
'Absolutely inspirational' | 'Absolutely inspirational' |
The swim was due to be about 80 miles but because of the tides Ms Thomas ended up swimming closer to 130 miles. | |
Official observer Kevin Murphy said: "It is a triumph, she has tested the limits of endurance. | Official observer Kevin Murphy said: "It is a triumph, she has tested the limits of endurance. |
"It is amazing, absolutely inspirational. At the end we were very emotional." | "It is amazing, absolutely inspirational. At the end we were very emotional." |
Ms Thomas celebrated entering the record books, and making dry land at Dover, with champagne and chocolates. | Ms Thomas celebrated entering the record books, and making dry land at Dover, with champagne and chocolates. |
She completed her first open-water event in 2007 and first swam across the Channel in 2012 and then again in 2016. | She completed her first open-water event in 2007 and first swam across the Channel in 2012 and then again in 2016. |
Sarah Thomas said it was worth the physical exertion: "I almost didn't go back when I got back to England. | |
"I thought I should just finish and quit, but my team said, 'Guess what? You can do better. You can keep going'." | |