First successful Channel attempt
Ratification reported by source
Elapsed swim time · 11h 21m
Duration of the complete swim
Started · Saturday, 26 July 2003 · 08:39 · Swimming World reports departure on 26 July; time zone unstated
Finished · Saturday, 26 July 2003 · 20:00 · Swimming World reports arrival on the same dated swim; time zone unstated
Format · Solo · 1-way
Direction · England → France
Departure · Samphire Hoe
Arrival · Strouanne
Stroke · Freestyle
Pilot / piloting team · Duncan Taylor
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming Association — reported by CS&PF
How this record was checked
CS&PF named historical record 443858 gives Tina Neill, USA/Minnesota, 26 July 2003, E–F, 11:21:00 and CSA attribution. Swimming World’s dated first-attempt account, opening two paragraphs, establishes departure and arrival on that day at 08:39 and 20:00 and an elapsed 11:21. Minute precision follows that narrative; no time zone is inferred. Neill’s later interview identifies the first crossing as freestyle.
CS&PF historical record: Tina Neill, swim 443858
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · 26 July 2003; Neill, Tina; USA, Minnesota; England-to-France 11:21:00; CSA attribution; pilot Duncan Taylor.
Limitations · CSA ratification is reported by CS&PF; the original CSA individual result was not inspected.
Swimming World: Minnesota Masters coach completes first Channel attempt
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Explicit 26 July 2003 success; Samphire Hoe departure 08:39 and Strouanne arrival 20:00; 11 hours 21 minutes; Macalester coaching and support from Bob Pearson and Kathy Guinn.
Limitations · No time-zone label supplied; wider success-rate and nationality ordinal claims are not adopted.
Daily News of Open Water Swimming: Tina Neill interview, Going In Backwards And Swimming In Reverse
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · 2 March 2020 first-person interview: college backstroke and individual medley, Minnesota lake inspiration, second Channel choice, escort-boat sighting and backward-facing feeding; lists Haydn Welch’s 1993 backstroke crossing.
Limitations · Retrospective athlete interview; not a ratification document.
Female backstroke record crossing
Sources disagree
Female backstroke record: 13:22. Contemporary “first person” claims conflict with Haydn Welch’s 1993 backstroke crossing.
Recorded swim date · Tuesday, 9 August 2005 · Start or finish date not specified by the source
Elapsed swim time · 13h 22m
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
Timing note · Swimming World reports entering at 02:50 and landing at 16:12. The article is datelined 9 August; these clocks are retained without assuming phase-specific calendar dates or a time zone.
Format · Solo · 1-way
Direction · England → France
Departure · Samphire Hoe
Arrival · Wissant
Stroke · Backstroke
Pilot / piloting team · Reg Brickell Jr.
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming Association — reported by CS&PF
How this record was checked
CS&PF historical record 443988 gives 9 August 2005, Tina Neill, USA/Minnesota, E–F, 13:22:00 and CSA attribution. Guinness’s named female-backstroke record agrees on date and 13:22. Swimming World supplies the stroke and landing account but its first-person assertion is not accepted: the later Neill interview’s backstroke chronology includes Haydn Welch in 1993. The dispute concerns the historical first claim, not the consistently reported time.
CS&PF historical record: Tina Neill, swim 443988
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · 9 August 2005; Neill, Tina; USA, Minnesota; England-to-France 13:22:00; CSA attribution; pilot Reg Brickell Jr.
Limitations · CSA ratification is reported by CS&PF; the original CSA individual result was not inspected.
Swimming World: Neill crosses English Channel swimming backstroke
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Backstroke account dated 9 August: Samphire Hoe 02:50 to Wissant 16:12 in 13 hours 22 minutes; Reg Brickell and named family/coaching support.
Limitations · Incorrectly calls her the first person to cross on backstroke; later evidence identifies Haydn Welch’s 1993 crossing. No time-zone label supplied.
Guinness World Records: Tina Neil, fastest female Channel backstroke crossing
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Named USA swimmer; 9 August 2005; 13 hours 22 minutes; female backstroke category.
Limitations · Spells the surname Neil with one final l; federation and college records use Neill.
Daily News of Open Water Swimming: Tina Neill interview, Going In Backwards And Swimming In Reverse
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · 2 March 2020 first-person interview: college backstroke and individual medley, Minnesota lake inspiration, second Channel choice, escort-boat sighting and backward-facing feeding; lists Haydn Welch’s 1993 backstroke crossing.
Limitations · Retrospective athlete interview; not a ratification document.
USA