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ENGEnglandSport:SwimmingJackie Cobell is an English marathon and ice swimmer whose 2010 Channel crossing lasted more than a day. She had prepared for five years, including two Channel relays and a solo swim along Windermere. Her Channel fundraising supported the Huntington’s Disease Association, giving the challenge a purpose beyond reaching the French coast.
Aged 56, Cobell set off from Shakespeare Beach on 24 July 2010 with pilot Lance Oram and the escort boat Sea Satin. The tides repeatedly changed her progress towards France. She continued through the night and eventually reached a beach near Calais the following day, completing the crossing in 28 hours 44 minutes. That duration made her successful swim an unusual landmark in Channel history: a crossing remembered for the length of time she kept swimming.
Cobell subsequently developed an extensive ice-swimming career. In December 2012 she completed Great Britain’s first certified Ice Mile at Holborough Lake in Kent. Her winter competitions brought international podium finishes, including an age-category success at the 2017 world championships in Burghausen. She also helped other swimmers prepare at Holborough and Dover and took part in international relay projects. In 2020 she became a swimmer honoree of the International Ice Swimming Hall of Fame.
The recorded nationality is England.
More than a day in the Channel · 28 hours 44 minutes
Crossing details, recordings & verificationSolo swim
Saturday, 24 July 2010 – Sunday, 25 July 2010
England → France
Elapsed time · 28h 44m
Start clock · About 07:30 · Time zone not specified
Finish clock · 12:13 · Time zone not specified
Ratifying body's record checked · See the crossing record for qualifications and supporting evidence.
Ice swimming · Solo swim
Monday, 10 December 2012 (event date)
Holborough Lake, Kent, England
Completed an IISA-listed Ice Mile in water recorded at 4.75°C.
Elapsed time · 0h 42m 0s
Published distance · 1 statute mile
Ratifying body's record checked · Details and qualifications are in the career evidence.
Ice swimming · Race
Friday, 6 January 2017 (event date)
Burghausen, Bavaria, Germany
Won the women’s 60–64 category in 23:13.09 (minutes:seconds.centiseconds); finished 39th among women overall.
Published distance · 1000 m
Placing / category · 1st women 60–64; 39th women overall
Ratifying body's record checked · Details and qualifications are in the career evidence.
24–25 July 2010
Swam from England to France in 28 hours 44 minutes.
December 2012
Completed Great Britain’s first certified Ice Mile at Holborough Lake.
10 February 2013
Helped organise the first UK Ice Mile event at Holborough Lake.
January 2017
Won age-category gold over one kilometre in Burghausen.
2020
Recognised as a swimmer honoree.
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First recorded finish
1 more finish needed
0 of 1 recorded
Selected swimming performances appear in the English Channel record above.
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