Brazilian Ana Marcela Cunha sets South American record in English Channel swim

Brazilian Olympic swimming champion Ana Marcela Cunha has achieved a significant milestone, setting a new South American record for swimming the English Channel. She completed the challenging 42.9-kilometer (26.7-mile) course between England and France in an impressive 8 hours, 25 minutes, and 29 seconds. This remarkable feat makes her the fastest woman in the region to conquer the Channel since 1999, surpassing previous records held by Adherbal de Oliveira and Ana Mesquita. The distance covered is longer than the direct route due to strong currents and waves, adding to the difficulty of the swim. Cunha expressed immense joy and satisfaction, stating that achieving this childhood dream is as significant to her as winning an Olympic medal. Her record-breaking time also stands as the fastest in the world for both men and women in 2022, and specifically for women, it is the best time recorded since 1999.

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This crossing was a childhood dream. Having achieved it is very important to me. I am very, very happy!