Endurance swimmer Chloe McCardel completes record-breaking English Channel crossing

Endurance swimmer Chloe McCardel has completed her 35th crossing of the English Channel, beating the men’s record for the most swims across the 21-mile stretch of sea.

The 35-year-old Australian took 10 hours and 40 minutes to make the swim, landing in Calais just before 7am on Sunday. She left Abbot’s Cliff beach near Folkestone the evening before.

Ms McCardel moves to second on the list of the most Channel swims, passing the men’s record of 34 held by British athlete Kevin Murphy.

She now only trails another Briton, Alison Streeter, who has completed the challenge 43 times.

Australia’s Trent Grimsey, a former long distance swimmer, holds the record for the quickest crossing of the Channel, having completed it in six hours and 55 minutes.

Ms McCardel joked it was a “tough day at the office” after arriving in France on Sunday morning.

“I’m in great spirits,” she told PA news agency. “It’s such a joyous thing to be able to surpass the record and move to second spot on the list of most Channel crossings.

“It’s a very momentous occasion and I’m very proud to be able to represent Australia. I’ve also been thinking a lot about the people in lockdown, particularly women facing domestic violence, and I’m proud to be able to be a voice for those who don’t have one.”