A 37-year-old breast cancer survivor from Colorado became the first person Monday to swim the English Channel four times without taking a break. Sarah Thomas started the challenge early Sunday morning and finished Tuesday at about 6:30 a.m. British time after more than 54 hours, according to reports.
The swim between England and France was supposed to be about 80 miles but due to strong tides, Thomas ended up swimming about 130 miles, BBC News reports. After she came ashore at Dover following the completion of her swim, Thomas told BBC, “I just can’t believe we did it. I’m really just pretty numb.”
Click Here: cheap all stars rugby jersey
While four swimmers previously crossed the Channel three times without stopping, Thomas is the first to do it four times, the Guardian reports. During the swim, Thomas wasn’t allowed to touch a support boat or its crew. She couldn’t sleep, and even had to eat in the water.
Thomas dedicated her accomplishment to fellow cancer survivors, according to reports. Thomas was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and completed treatment in 2018.
“This is for those of us who have prayed for our lives, who have wondered with despair about what comes next, and have battled through pain and fear to overcome,” she said.
Thomas started swimming when she was a child, KUSA-TV reports. While she participated in the sport in high school and college, it wasn’t until 12 years ago she became interested in open water swimming. Her first 10K race was at Horsetooth Reservoir, and she has since set a record in Lake Powell. She has swam in Loch Ness in Scotland, and around Manhattan.
In 2017, Thomas set another record when she spent 67 hours and 16 minutes swimming in Lake Champlain, earning her a world record for the longest solo, nonstop, unassisted, current-neutral swim.
During this most recent swim, Thomas’ mother, Becky, told BBC this was “by far the scariest” swim she had done. She said Thomas did suffer from a lot of stomach trouble during the swim.
Thomas celebrated her record-breaking feat on dry land with champagne, chocolates and a small group of dedicated supporters. Swimmer Lewis Pugh said in a tweet: “Just when we think we’ve reached the limit of human endurance, someone shatters the records.”