Four women complete relay English Channel swim to mark 100 years since Ederle

Four international open water endurance swimmers completed a relay crossing of the English Channel in 11 hours 28 minutes, marking 100 years since Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim it. The team also used the challenge to promote swimming as a life-saving skill for children.

Why it matters: - The relay marked a century since Gertrude “Trudi” Ederle became the first woman to successfully swim the English Channel on 6 August 1926. - The swimmers used the crossing to promote swimming for young people as an essential safety skill. - The effort highlighted both women’s endurance sport and the role swimming can play in drowning prevention.

What happened: - Four women completed a relay Channel crossing from Dover to Calais on July 23, 2026. - The team included Mariam Binladen of Saudi Arabia, Mariana Moura Santon of Portugal, Nathalie Pohl of Germany and Jasmine Harrison of Britain. - The swimmers finished the 48km challenge in 11 hours 28 minutes. - Each swimmer spent one hour at a time in the water. - The team met through a shared love of swimming. - The relay took place in choppy seas with strong winds. - Conditions were severe enough that the swim was at risk of being stopped after four hours.

The details: - The swimmers were not allowed to touch the boat or any other objects during the crossing. - Each swimmer had to stay at least 1.5 meters away from the boat at all times. - Mariam Binladen said the team started with winds of about 17 to 18 knots, which later dropped to around six knots and rose again at night to about nine knots. - Binladen said the water temperature fell from 20°C to 17°C. - The hour-long rotations meant each swimmer had to maintain a fast pace throughout the swim. - The team returned to the boat between turns to warm up. - Binladen said staying warm between swims was another challenge because of the wind and cold weather. - Binladen completed six months of intensive training for the Dover-to-Calais relay. - Binladen is also the first Arab woman to swim the entire length of the River Thames. - Her other challenges include ice glacier swimming in Austria and a swim from Saudi Arabia to Egypt. - Binladen was stung by a jellyfish during the crossing but continued. - The relay team completed the swim successfully despite the sting and the harsh conditions.

Between the lines: - The anniversary framing turned the swim into a tribute to women’s open-water history, not just an athletic challenge. - Binladen’s comments suggest the team wanted the crossing to have a broader social message, especially around children’s water safety. - The mix of swimmers from Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Germany and Britain underscored the international reach of the sport. - Binladen’s background as a dentist, environmentalist and philanthropist adds to the event’s public-interest angle, especially through ocean conservation and women’s participation in sports.

What's next: - Binladen said she hopes the achievement inspires more children to learn to swim. - She wants the swim to encourage confidence in the water and greater awareness of drowning prevention. - The anniversary could prompt more public attention on women’s endurance swimming and swimming education efforts.

The bottom line: - The relay paired a historic Channel anniversary with a practical message: swimming is both a sport and a life skill that can save lives.