USAUnited States

Chad Hundeby

1991 world 25 km champion · English Channel record in 1994

Early swimming: Blue Buoy Swim School, Tustin, California
Education: Woodbridge High School; Southern Methodist University
World championship medals: Men's 25 km and mixed-team gold, Perth 1991
Coach: Penny Lee Dean
Channel performance: 27 September 1994 · 7:17 · England → France
Hall of Fame: ISHOF Honor Open Water Swimmer, 2012
Died: 12 June 2021, aged 50, according to ISHOF

Biography

Chad Hundeby was an American open water swimmer whose competitive career linked international championship racing with fast channel crossings. He learned to swim at Blue Buoy Swim School in Tustin, California, attended Woodbridge High School and swam at Southern Methodist University. The International Swimming Hall of Fame describes his move towards open water after he did not make the 1988 Olympic team.

At the 1991 World Championships in Perth, Hundeby won the men's 25-kilometre race. World Aquatics also lists him with mixed-team gold at the same championships. He later established a Catalina Channel record in 1993 and was recognised as the United States' open water swimmer of the year in 1991, 1993 and 1994.

On 27 September 1994 he completed the English Channel from England to France in 7 hours 17 minutes. His coach Penny Lee Dean had held the earlier overall mark. The published CSA result and the CS&PF historical record agree on Hundeby's time; the latter names Reg Brickell Jr, Helen Ann Marie and observer R. Scott. The federation's record progression shows Christof Wandratsch taking the overall mark in 2005, whereas the Hall of Fame narrative gives a conflicting 21-year duration.

Hundeby became an ISHOF Honor Open Water Swimmer in 2012. The organisation's obituary records his death on 12 June 2021, aged fifty, and remembers his quiet manner alongside his competitive achievements.

Selected Channel swim records

1994 English Channel record swim

Ratifying body's record checked

The 7:17 result is agreed. Overall record duration differs: CS&PF shows it surpassed in 2005; ISHOF says it stood for 21 years.

Recorded swim date · Tuesday, 27 September 1994 · Start or finish date not specified by the source

Elapsed swim time · 7h 17m

Duration of the complete swim

Started · Exact start date not confirmed · Clock time not confirmed

Finished · Exact finish date not confirmed · Clock time not confirmed

Format · Solo · 1-way

Direction · England → France

Pilot / piloting team · Reg Brickell Jr

Escort vessel · Helen Ann Marie

Official observers · R. Scott

Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming Association

How this record was checked

CSA successful individual record 2954 matches Chad Hundeby, United States, solo one-way E-F, 1994 and 07:17, with three season awards. CS&PF historical record 443607 supplies 27 September, age 23 and crew. The overall record progression places Wandratsch's 2005 swim after Hundeby's; ISHOF's different duration is preserved as a contextual qualification. Published result checked, not the original observer log.

Channel Swimming Association: Chad Hundeby, 1994

Checked 2026-10-31

Supports · Successful individual record 2954: United States, one-way solo E-F, 07:17 and 1994 awards.

Limitations · CSA page gives year only. Its CSA record badge is not treated as a current overall cross-federation record.

CS&PF historical record: Chad Hundeby, 27 September 1994

Checked 2026-10-31

Supports · Record 443607: USA, age 23, generic date, 07:17:00, E-F, Reg Brickell Jr, Helen Ann Marie, R. Scott and CSA attribution.

International Swimming Hall of Fame: Chad Hundeby

Checked 2026-10-31

Supports · USA, Blue Buoy Swim School, Woodbridge High School, Southern Methodist University, Penny Lee Dean and 1994 crossing.

Limitations · Its statement that the Channel record lasted 21 years conflicts with the CS&PF overall progression showing a faster 2005 swim.

CS&PF: Channel record progression

Checked 2026-10-31

Supports · Channel crossing records table: Hundeby 27 September 1994, 07:17:00; Wandratsch 1 August 2005, 07:03:52, both in Overall column.

Limitations · Used for dated historical progression, not a complete current register or an undated record claim.

Career milestones

World 25 km champion

Wednesday, 9 January 1991

World Aquatics lists gold in Perth.

Catalina Channel record

1993

ISHOF credits his island-to-mainland performance with the record.

English Channel record

Tuesday, 27 September 1994

Crossed in 7:17, improving the previous overall mark.

Overall Channel mark surpassed

Monday, 1 August 2005

CS&PF's record progression lists Christof Wandratsch's faster swim.

ISHOF honour

2012

Recognised as an Honor Open Water Swimmer.

Death

Saturday, 12 June 2021

ISHOF records Hundeby's death at age fifty.

Recordings & media

Chad Hundeby: Hall of Fame profile

Open media page

Athlete media

Named Hall of Fame biography. The Channel record-duration discrepancy is qualified in the profile.

Link checked 2026-10-31

English Channel questions

Which English Channel swims are included for Chad Hundeby?: This profile includes 1 selected solo performance for Chad Hundeby. It is a selected history, not a complete career total. A continuous multi-way swim counts as one performance.
When was Chad Hundeby’s featured English Channel swim?: The featured swim is recorded on Tuesday, 27 September 1994. The source does not establish whether that date means departure or arrival.
How long did Chad Hundeby’s featured Channel swim take?: The featured solo crossing has a published elapsed time of 7 hours and 17 minutes. The 7:17 result is agreed. Overall record duration differs: CS&PF shows it surpassed in 2005; ISHOF says it stood for 21 years.

CS&PF: Channel record progression

Open source

Checked 2026-10-31

Supports · Channel crossing records table: Hundeby 27 September 1994, 07:17:00; Wandratsch 1 August 2005, 07:03:52, both in Overall column.

Limitations · Used for dated historical progression, not a complete current register or an undated record claim.

Latest source review 2026-10-31.