Bárbara Hernández completes historic English Channel double
Known for both her cold water and long distance swimming exploits, Bárbara Hernández has completed the longest swim of her career, becoming the first South American woman to swim to France and back again across the English Channel
After swimming for nearly 24 hours, Bárbara Hernández was approaching Shakespeare Beach. But her route to shore – and completing a double English Channel crossing – was blocked by powerful waves.
Bárbara, an Oceans Seven swimmer, had set off from the English coast at half past midnight on 30 July to attempt this double crossing, after waiting seven days in Dover for a suitable weather window. She faced all the usual English Channel hazards: cool water, jellyfish, and strong currents. At one point, a large male seal took an interest and followed her for a while.
Already the first leg took longer than expected. The current pushed her south of the usual landing places in Calais and Cap Gris Nez, forcing her to land at Cran des Sillers after 13 hours and 20 minutes. Three minutes later, she re-entered the water and turned towards Dover.
Worsening conditions
The conditions, challenging to begin with, worsened through the second leg. As night fell, she was swimming through heavy seas, churned up by strong winds. That, combined with cold and fatigue, was taking its toll. The last thing she needed was a diversion and more swimming time.
But Shakespear Beach wasn’t accessible. She needed to divert to a safer landing spot
Yet having travelled from Chile, and dreamt about this swim for years, Bárbara wasn’t going to stop for this. She pushed on for another four cold and painful hours until finally reaching land near Dover at 3:50 in the morning, after 27 hours and 14 minutes of swimming.
Team effort
Typically for Bárbara, she was quick to praise those around her.
“This achievement isn’t just mine—it belongs to my incredible team, and to all Chileans who may feel that their dreams are too far to reach. I dedicate this to my family and to everyone fighting their own current, as well as to the athletes of Special Olympics*, who also strive to be seen and to keep doing what they love. Thank you all for giving me strength when I had none left, and for helping make the impossible a reality.”
The English Channel double has been a long-held dream for Bárbara, as she told us in an interview earlier this year. She is the first South American woman (and only the second Latin American) to achieve this incredible swim.
*Bárbara is a proud ambassador for Special Olympics.
Simon Griffiths
I started Outdoor Swimmer in 2011 (initially as H2Open Magazine) as an outlet for my passion for swimming outdoors. I've been a swimmer and outdoor swimmer for as long as I remember. Swimming has made a huge difference to my life and I want to share its joys and benefits with as many people as possible. I am also the author of Swim Wild & Free: A Practical Guide to Swimming Outdoors 365 a Year, I provide one-to-one support to swimmers through Swim Mentoring and I'm the creator of the Renaissance Swimmer project.
