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USAUnited StatesSport:SwimmingStella Taylor worked as a pool manager in Fort Lauderdale and raced on the professional marathon swimming circuit. Born in England in 1929, she lived in Canada and Buffalo before settling in Florida. The International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame credits her with the outstanding newcomer award in her first professional season, 1969.
In August 1973 she set out from Shakespeare Cliff and reached Cap Blanc Nez in 15 hours 45 minutes. She told an interviewer that the current swept her past the landing she had expected. On returning to Florida, she was already talking about swimming to France and back. She went to Dover again in 1974, but spent eleven weeks waiting for a break in the weather and never entered the water.
In August 1975 Taylor waited another 45 days before starting. In waves that she estimated at four feet, she reached France in 18 hours 15 minutes. The round trip ended there. The federation and the Hall of Fame credit the 45-year-old with the women's age record, which stood until 1994.
Taylor went on to swim the length of Lake George in 1977 and to cross Loch Ness and Lake Okeechobee in 1981. In April 1982 she spent 65 consecutive hours swimming in the Hall of Fame pool in Fort Lauderdale. The Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame inducted her that year.
The recorded nationality is United States.
Two England-to-France solos and a women's age record in 1975
Crossing details, recordings & verificationSolo · 1-way
England → France
Friday, 10 August 1973 (recorded swim date)
Elapsed time · 15h 45m
Start clock · Clock time not confirmed
Finish clock · Clock time not confirmed
Qualification · The selected duration is 15h 45m. A later account gives 15h 25m. Reported ages also differ between 38 and 43.
Sources disagree · See the crossing record for qualifications and supporting evidence.
Solo · 1-way
England → France
Tuesday, 26 August 1975 (recorded swim date)
Elapsed time · 18h 15m 0s
Start clock · Clock time not confirmed
Finish clock · Clock time not confirmed
Qualification · Taylor completed the outward leg of a planned round trip. Published ages differ between 40 and 45.
Ratification reported by source · See the crossing record for qualifications and supporting evidence.
Open water swimming · Solo
1977 · exact day not confirmed
Lake George, New York, United States
Completed the length of the lake.
Published distance · 32 miles
Published elapsed time · 26h 51m 0s
Published account checked · Details and qualifications are in the career evidence.
1969
Earned the marathon circuit's first-year swimming award.
1973-08-10
The federation dates her 15:45 England-to-France crossing to 10 August.
1975-08-26
Reached France in 18:15 and set the women's age mark credited by the Hall of Fame.
1977
Swam the 32-mile length in 26 hours 51 minutes.
1981
The Hall of Fame lists both swims, including 18 hours 58 minutes in Loch Ness.
1982-04-06
Began the effort she described in her own account as a 65-hour continuous swim.
1982
Inducted as an Honor Swimmer for the United States.
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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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