Choose a language
Translations open in a new tab using Google Translate. English opens the original page.
28 of 28 languages
ENGEnglandSport:SwimmingMervyn Sharp grew up beside the sea at Weymouth and turned a childhood enthusiasm for swimming into a sustained marathon career. He joined his local swimming club at seven and later played water polo as a goalkeeper. A meeting with coach Tom Watch in 1965 helped make the English Channel a practical ambition rather than a distant idea.
His first successful crossing came in 1967, from France to England, in eighteen hours thirty-four minutes. He returned repeatedly, completing six further crossings in the opposite direction. Two came in 1969, and his sequence culminated in July 1974 with a PB of thirteen hours forty-two minutes. He became the first swimmer to reach seven successful Channel crossings and held the King of the Channel title in 1974–1975.
Sharp’s competition programme extended well beyond Dover. He represented England at the 1970 Windermere International, finishing fifth in the men’s championship and second among the English men. In 1971 and 1972 he raced on the Canadian professional circuit, including events at Lake St John and in Quebec. Coastal swims closer to home included routes around Weymouth, Swanage and Torbay.
His winter conditioning also involved amateur wrestling, in which he earned an Intermediate British Heavyweight silver medal. His enduring contribution to marathon swimming was recognised in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame’s class of 2006.
First swimmer to seven Channel crossings · King of the Channel, 1974–1975
Also recorded as Merv Sharp, Mervin Sharp.
Crossing details, recordings & verificationSolo swim
Sunday, 27 August 1967 (recorded swim date)
France → England
Elapsed time · 18h 34m
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.
Solo swim
1969 · exact day not recorded here
England → France
Elapsed time · 19h 41m
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
Sunday, 7 October 1973 (recorded swim date)
England → France
Elapsed time · 15h 17m
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.
Solo swim
Thursday, 18 July 1974 (recorded swim date)
England → France
Elapsed time · 13h 42m
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.
Open-water swimming · Race
Saturday, 8 August 1970 (event date)
Windermere, England
Represented England and finished fifth in the men’s championship in 10h 7m 58s.
Placing / category · 5th, men (second English man)
Published elapsed time · 10h 7m 58s
Historical account checked · Details and qualifications are in the career evidence.
1965
The coach encouraged his ambition to swim the English Channel.
27 August 1967
Published record dates his 18:34 France-to-England swim to this day.
1969
Completed England-to-France swims in 14:29 and 19:41.
1970
Raced for England at Windermere and finished fifth in the men’s championship.
1971–1972
Competed in marathon races including Lake St John and Quebec events.
18 July 1974
Recorded 13:42 and reached the unprecedented total of seven crossings.
2006
Named an International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame honoree.
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.