Choose a language
Translations open in a new tab using Google Translate. English opens the original page.
28 of 28 languages
USAUnited StatesSport:SwimmingMarcella MacDonald, known as Marcy, was born in Manchester, Connecticut, on 24 November 1963. She joined a local swim team at seven, swam for Manchester High School and played softball at American International College. Alongside her podiatry practice she coached swimmers at the Laurel East Hartford YMCA and later at Special Olympics Glastonbury.
After racing around Manhattan in 1993, MacDonald crossed from England to France on 30 June 1994 in 10 hours 33 minutes. She went on to swim the return journey as a continuous solo. In July 2001 she reached France and returned to England in 21 hours 19 minutes, becoming the first American woman to complete that double. She completed two more doubles in 2004 and 2013. The federation recognised both with its annual fastest two-way award, although its records disagree by one minute on the 2013 elapsed time.
MacDonald also swam with Marcia Cleveland in the six-person Force Six America Channel relay in 2003. Her 2013 Catalina Channel swim completed the Triple Crown. In 2022 she reached Belgium from England after 38 hours 20 minutes on a longer route. The International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame recognised her in 2005, followed by the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2019.
The recorded nationality is United States.
Three solo England–France doubles · first American woman to complete a double
Also recorded as Marcy MacDonald, Marcella A. MacDonald.
Crossing details, recordings & verificationSolo · 1-way
England → France
Thursday, 30 June 1994 (recorded swim date)
Elapsed time · 10h 33m
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 · 2-way
England → France → England
Friday, 27 July 2001 (recorded swim date)
Elapsed time · 21h 19m 0s
Start clock · Clock time not confirmed
Finish clock · Clock time not confirmed
Ratification reported by source · See the crossing record for qualifications and supporting evidence.
These legs form one continuous 2-way swim.
Leg 1 · England → France · 9h 53m 0s
Leg 2 · France → England · 11h 26m 0s
Solo · 2-way
England → France → England
Friday, 3 September 2004 (recorded swim date)
Elapsed time · 23h 0m 0s
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.
These legs form one continuous 2-way swim.
Leg 1 · England → France · 11h 14m 0s
Leg 2 · France → England · 11h 46m 0s
Solo · 2-way
England → France → England
Wednesday, 28 August 2013 (recorded swim date)
Elapsed time · 24h 15m 15s
Start clock · Clock time not confirmed
Finish clock · Clock time not confirmed
Qualification · The award gives 24h 15m 15s. The individual record gives 24h 16m 15s, which matches its two published legs.
Sources disagree · See the crossing record for qualifications and supporting evidence.
1979
Named in the Girls Swimming roster of the 1979 school yearbook.
1994-06-30
Completed the England-to-France crossing in 10:33.
2001-07-27
Swam the return course in 21:19.
2004-09-03
Earned the season's CS&PF fastest two-way award with 23:00.
2013-06
A Catalina Channel crossing completed the three-swim series.
2022
Completed the separate 38-hour, 20-minute England–Belgium route.
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.