Four women complete relay Channel crossing on 100th anniversary of Ederle swim

Four open water endurance swimmers from Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Germany and Britain completed a relay crossing of the English Channel to mark 100 years since Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim it. The team finished the 48km route from Dover to Calais in 11 hours 28 minutes, using the effort to encourage children to learn to swim.

Why it matters: - The relay linked a high-profile endurance feat to a public-safety message about swimming skills and drowning prevention. - The crossing marked a century since Gertrude “Trudi” Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel on 6 August 1926. - The effort also highlighted women’s participation in long-distance open water swimming.

What happened: - Four international swimmers completed a relay crossing of the English Channel from Dover to Calais. - The team finished the 48km swim in 11 hours 28 minutes. - The swimmers were Mariam Binladen of Saudi Arabia, Mariana Moura Santon of Portugal, Nathalie Pohl of Germany and Jasmine Harrison of Britain. - Each swimmer spent one hour at a time in the water. - The swimmers were not allowed to touch the boat or any other objects and had to stay at least 1.5m away from the boat. - The crossing took place on July 23, 2026, and was announced in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The details: - Rough seas and strong winds nearly forced the swim to stop after four hours in the water. - Wind conditions started at about 17 to 18 knots, fell to around six knots during the day, then rose at night to about nine knots. - Water temperature was 20°C at the start and dropped to 17°C. - Mariam Binladen said the fast pace required by the one-hour relay format made the swim especially demanding. - Binladen said staying warm between swims was another challenge because of the wind and cold weather. - Binladen spent six months in intensive training for the Dover-to-Calais swim. - Binladen previously completed a solo English Channel crossing about a decade ago. - Binladen is also the first Arab woman to swim the entire length of the River Thames. - Binladen has also completed ice glacier swimming in Austria and a swim from Saudi Arabia to Egypt. - Binladen was stung by a jellyfish during the relay but continued the swim.

Between the lines: - The anniversary gave the relay a symbolic frame beyond athletic achievement, tying today’s endurance swimmers to a landmark in women’s sports history. - Binladen used the crossing to push a broader message: children should learn to swim because the skill can prevent drowning and save lives. - The team’s mix of nationalities reinforced the international nature of open water endurance swimming. - Binladen also works as a dentist, environmentalist and philanthropist, with support for ocean conservation and women’s participation in sports.

What's next: - Binladen said she hopes the achievement encourages more children to take up swimming. - The relay is likely to serve as a reference point for future campaigns promoting water safety and women’s sport participation.

The bottom line: - A century after Ederle’s solo breakthrough, four women turned the English Channel into both an endurance test and a reminder that swimming is a life skill.