Marathon Swim Stories
Have you ever stood at the edge of a body of water and wondered what it would be like to swim to the other side? Stories from The Water is where we connect with curious and courageous individuals from all walks of life—some who took their first strokes as toddlers, others who discovered their passion midlife.
Through their stories, we explore our deep connection with water—what draws us in, what holds us back, and what keeps us going. Whether you're a seasoned swimmer, aspiring, or just intrigued by the water’s pull, these stories reveal powerful lessons about resilience, fear, and the pursuit of something greater—both in the water and in life.
Marathon Swim Stories
Sarah Thomas' Marathon Swim Story
In this episode of Marathon Swim Stories with four-way English Channel crosser Sarah Thomas we talk about making the leap from the pool straight to marathon distance (10K) open water, impromptu training swims, pushing through, and so much more!
In her own words: Sarah Thomas, 38, is an ultra-marathon swimmer who holds the current world record for the longest continuous, unassisted, non-wetsuit, swim done in current-neutral conditions. That record-breaking swim covered 104.6 miles over 67 hours and was completed in Lake Champlain in August of 2017. Shortly after completing this swim, Sarah was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She was just 35 years old. While undergoing aggressive cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy, Sarah never gave up on her dream of doing a swim that most people thought was impossible. One year after completing her cancer treatments, Sarah did just that- becoming the first person to complete a four-way crossing of the English Channel in 54 hours and 10 minutes.
Sarah lives near Denver, Colorado, with her husband Ryan, their two beagles and their rescue mutt. She is a full-time healthcare recruiter. She also does keynote presentations for special events, where she shares her life lessons that help her complete marathon swims and that helped her beat cancer.
Other notable swims:
- Catalina Channel- 20 miles, 2010
- Manhattan Island Marathon Swim- 28.5 miles, 2011
- English Channel (single crossing)- 21 miles, 2012
- Double Lake Tahoe- 42 miles, 2013*
- Double Lake Memphremagog- 50 miles, 2013*
- Loch Ness- 22 miles, 2015**
- Lake Powell- 80 miles, 2016*
- Lake Champlain- 104.6 miles, 2017*
- English Channel Four Way- 84 miles, 2019*
*First person to complete this swim
**Second American to complete this swim
Click HERE For a full list of swim history.
Notable Awards:
· Inducted into the Colorado Sportswomen Hall of Fame, 2020
· Inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, 2018
· Inducted into the Vermont Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, 2016
· Marathon Swimmers Federation Solo Swim of the Year, 2017, 2018
· World Open Water Swimming Association- Performance of the Year- 2016
If you'd like to be a guest on Marathon Swim Stories, mailto:shannon@intrepidwater.com
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Music credit:
Epic Inspiration by Rafael Krux
Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5447-epic-inspiration-
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Swimming sounds courtesy of swimmer, Todd Lantry.
