Nothing in the English Channel is guaranteed, but when Dr. Marcy MacDonald stands on the shores of Dover, there is good money on her chances of completing what she sets out to do.
Since 1994, the podiatrist from Andover, Connecticut has been crossing the English Channel between France and England. And she has gradually become one of the most prolific Channel swimmers of all time.
This week, the 49-year-old completed her 14th English Channel crossing with a 24-hour 16-minute two-way crossing of the Channel. This was her third successful two-way crossing of her career, and done in her typical fashion as a charity swim on behalf of the St. Vincent’s Medical Center.
Her impressions and recollections of her 13th and 14th Channel crossings are here which she called “lumpy…it wasn’t pretty conditions, [but] I have left the Channel without any permanent damage, a fantastic jellie sting and some super pectoral girdle soreness.”
Her achievement ties her for the all-time record for an American with Peter Jurzynski, who are interestingly enough are both from Connecticut.
Her pilots for the 24-hour Club crossing were Mike Oram and James Willi on the Gallivant. But her swim is not over: donations can still be made on her behalf via St. Vincent’s website page here.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.