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USAUnited StatesSport:SwimmingJon Erikson grew up around the swimming ambitions of his father, Ted, and learned through Chicago Park District’s Ridge Park programme. His own marathon career began with an extraordinary first challenge: an English Channel crossing at fourteen in August 1969. He subsequently developed an international racing career, competing in Canadian lake and river events and professional swims in Mexico and Argentina.
The Channel remained central to his ambitions. After a double crossing in 1975, he completed a faster two-way swim in 1979 during an attempt to continue across a third time. In August 1981 he returned to accomplish the full three-way journey. Starting from England on 11 August, he reached France, returned to England and crossed to France once more, finishing on 12 August after 38 hours 27 minutes. His father was aboard the support boat, and Rosemary George was an important figure in his preparation and support.
Erikson later described a training approach that combined endurance with demanding, faster interval work. The triple crossing fulfilled his principal sporting ambition, and he retired from marathon swimming after it. His career connected a family tradition with a new Channel milestone: the first completed three-way swim. He entered the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 1981 and the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2014, the year he died.
The recorded nationality is United States.
First three-way English Channel swim · 38 hours 27 minutes
Crossing details, recordings & verificationSolo swim
Sunday, 19 August 1979 (recorded swim date)
England → France → England
Elapsed time · 22h 16m
Start clock · Clock time not confirmed
Finish clock · Clock time not confirmed
Ratifying body's record checked · See the crossing record for qualifications and supporting evidence.
Solo swim
Tuesday, 11 August 1981 – Wednesday, 12 August 1981
England → France → England → France
Elapsed time · 38h 27m
Start clock · Clock time not confirmed
Finish clock · Clock time not confirmed
Ratifying body's record checked · See the crossing record for qualifications and supporting evidence.
Open-water swimming · Solo swim
Saturday, 21 August 1971 (event date)
Chicago, Illinois → Michigan City, Indiana, USA
Completed the Lake Michigan crossing.
Elapsed time · 25h 22m
Published distance · 37 miles (historical source account)
Historical account checked · Details and qualifications are in the career evidence.
Open-water swimming · Solo swim
Saturday, 13 August 1977 (event date)
Chaleur Bay, Canada
Completed a double crossing of Chaleur Bay.
Elapsed time · 16h 4m
Published distance · 30 miles (historical source account)
Historical account checked · Details and qualifications are in the career evidence.
12 August 1969
Completed his first marathon swim at fourteen.
1971
Added a Lake Michigan crossing to his growing marathon career.
1975
Completed an England–France–England swim.
1979
Completed two legs in 22 hours 16 minutes during a three-way attempt.
11–12 August 1981
Swam England–France–England–France in 38 hours 27 minutes.
1981
Inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.
2014
Recognised as an open-water swimming 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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