Choose a language
Translations open in a new tab using Google Translate. English opens the original page.
28 of 28 languages
USAUnited StatesSport:SwimmingLynne Cox is an American open-water swimmer, author and swimming teacher whose career connects competitive speed with long-distance exploration. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1957, she moved with her family to Los Alamitos, California, in 1969 and trained under Don Gambril. A Catalina Channel crossing with teenage teammates in 1971 preceded her English Channel achievements.
Cox swam from England to France in 9 hours 57 minutes in 1972, then improved her own mark to 9 hours 36 minutes in 1973. These were England-to-France records; the route matters when comparing historical Channel performances.
She subsequently became the first woman to cross New Zealand’s Cook Strait in 1975. In 1987 she swam between Little Diomede and Big Diomede in the Bering Strait, connecting American and Soviet territory during the Cold War. Her later work as a writer, lecturer and teacher extended her influence beyond the swims themselves.
The recorded nationality is United States.
England-to-France record in 1973 · 9 hours 36 minutes
Crossing details, recordings & verificationSolo swim
Friday, 10 August 1973 (completion)
England → France
Elapsed time · 9h 36m
Start clock · Clock time not confirmed
Finish clock · Clock time not confirmed
Published account checked · See the crossing record for qualifications and supporting evidence.
Solo swim
Thursday, 20 July 1972 (recorded swim date)
England → France
Elapsed time · 9h 57m
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
Sunday, 22 September 1974 (event date)
Completed mainland → Catalina Island.
Elapsed time · 8h 48m
Historical account checked · Details and qualifications are in the career evidence.
Open-water swimming · Solo swim
Tuesday, 4 February 1975 (event date)
New Zealand
Completed North Island → South Island; first woman. NZOWSA and NZ History publish 12h07m; ISHOF publishes 12h02m.
Elapsed time · 12h 7m
Sources disagree · Details and qualifications are in the career evidence.
1971
Crossed with a group of teenage teammates.
1972
Completed the route in 9 hours 57 minutes.
10 August 1973
Finished the England-to-France crossing in 9 hours 36 minutes.
1975
Became the first woman to swim Cook Strait.
1987
Swam between American and Soviet territory.
Thursday, 20 July 1972
The federation’s historical record progression lists her 9:57 England-to-France crossing, preceding her faster 1973 swim.
Achievements update from recorded results. A tick means the supporting results are verified.
No eligible completed results are linked yet. Link a completed result to start the achievement collection.
First recorded finish
1 more finish needed
0 of 1 recorded
Selected swimming performances appear in the English Channel record above.
Log in or create a free account to see the full results history, achievements and profile details.
Confirm ownership through the claim process before editing a profile.