She's done it - Sally completes the third longest marathon swim in history!

Tuesday 30 August 2016

Long distance swimmer, Sally Minty-Gravett, has completed her epic charity swim from England to France, and back again.

The 59-year-old became the oldest swimmer to complete the mammoth marathon challenge just after 21:00 last night, having been swimming for 36 hours and 26 minutes.

She's the only person in the world to swim the Channel five times in five decades but says this was her biggest challenge yet.

She said: “I’ve just had it confirmed that it’s the third longest marathon swim in history.

I feel elated, I thought I would have lots of pain as my shoulder went at the turning around point in France but then I forgot the pain, I must have worked it off.

"I'm a bit lightheaded this morning and I was advised to sleep sitting up last night because your blood pressure drops very quickly if you have been horizontal for so long. I'm feeling a little bit wobbly today.

“The finish was the hardest. Actually the easiest part was getting to France and turning around and that was the bit I’d never got my head round.

“When I swim I think about my technique all the time, all day it’s constant and I’d look on the boat and they were all having a gtreat day out, the crew were great. 

“They’ve got on so well, they were all there for me. Because I’ve been in charge of all my swims, the hardest thing was to let go and let someone else look after me. 

"They said you’ve got to let go and let us look after you and within two hours I did that.

“I’m absolutely over the moon that this is over. This has been on hold for three years.

“There are some things I’d like to do. I turn 60 next year. I want to do a triathlon, I’d like to row the Sark to Jersey and I’d like to do Kilimanjaro but you can’t do all that and swim.”​

Sally trained hard for her big swim, going to the gym and swimming in the sea as much as she could and at the end of June she did two swims around the Island to prepare for the Channel. She was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in May. 

Sally has already raised almost £10,000 - great news for the two charities she's supporting - the RNLI and Jersey Cheshire Home. You can support here here.