CALAIS, France, September 9. THE list of swimmers who have completed the prestigious Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming got closer to 100 today, as 16-year-old American Charlotte Samuels completed a crossing of the English Channel to join the 98 others who have accomplished the hefty feat.
Samuels crossed the English Channel today in 20 hours and 44 minutes according to The Daily News of Open Water Swimming, making her the youngest swimmer to complete the Triple Crown – English Channel, Catalina Channel, Manhattan Island – and knocking 18-year-old Lachlan Hinds from that distinction almost a month after he finished his Triple Crown swims. Samuels completed her three swims in three months, swimming around Manhattan Island in June (nine hours, 54 minutes) and crossing Catalina Channel in August (20 hours, 20 minutes).
Not only is Samuels the 99th person to officially complete the Triple Crown, but she is the 66th American and the 38th woman to achieve the feat. In addition to Samuels and Hinds, Daniel Robinson and Jordan Waxman also completed the Triple Crown this year.
Amazing girl… she has great condition