Caitlin O'Reilly

Caitlin O'Reilly is a New Zealand swimmer whose English Channel crossing formed part of a seven-channel project begun in childhood. Her athlete biography describes taking lessons with Dean Kent at Northern Arena, joining Coast Swim Club and qualifying for junior nationals at ten. She won a national 100-metre butterfly title the following year. Coach John Gatfield's Cook Strait experience helped inspire her own ambition to attempt that crossing.

O'Reilly completed Cook Strait in February 2017 at twelve. Lake Taupō and Foveaux Strait followed, before a double crossing of Taupō in 2022. These swims developed alongside her pool and surf lifesaving experience.

On 9 August 2023 she swam the English Channel from England to France in 9 hours 34 minutes. The federation's table names Lance Oram and Sea Satin. Swimming New Zealand describes a dark departure, 16-degree water and choppy conditions; its contemporary report explicitly said ratification was pending. She then completed the North Channel and Gibraltar within the same thirty-three-day period, crediting support from Philip Rush and her wider team.

The final two channels came in 2024. Finishing Molokai on 24 October completed her Oceans Seven, with Guinness recognising her as the youngest female completer at that date. Swimming New Zealand's subsequent account also described her studying to become a paramedic.