Chilean swimmer Bárbara Hernández achieves historic Double Triple Crown

Chilean swimmer Bárbara Hernández, known as "The Ice Mermaid," has made history by becoming the second woman and fourth person ever to conquer the Double Triple Crown of open water swimming. Hernández completed an arduous 65-kilometer continuous swim, a round trip between the California coast and Santa Catalina Island. Her remarkable feat took 23 hours, 42 minutes, and 13 seconds. She finished the initial leg to the island in 11 hours, 51 minutes, and 4 seconds. After a brief pause of less than five minutes on land, she immediately began the return journey, concluding it in 11 hours, 51 minutes, and 9 seconds. "I still can't believe it. This is a dream I dedicate especially to all the women who are daring to go to the sea and give themselves a chance at what they truly love to do," Hernández expressed, her voice filled with emotion. The Double Triple Crown is an elite challenge requiring swimmers to complete two crossings of three iconic open water routes: the circumnavigation of Manhattan Island, the English Channel, and the Santa Catalina Channel.

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I still can't believe it. This is a dream I dedicate especially to all the women who are daring to go to the sea and give themselves a chance at what they truly love to do