Trent Grimsey

2012 England–France speed record

Published account checked

Elapsed swim time · 6h 55m

Duration of the complete swim

Started · Saturday, 8 September 2012 · About 06:45 · Crew recollection: almost 06:45; time zone not specified

Finished · Saturday, 8 September 2012 · Clock time not confirmed

Timing note · The start is an approximate eyewitness recollection, not a certified timestamp. The inspected accounts do not establish a finish clock, so none has been calculated from the duration.

Format · Solo · 1-way

Direction · England → France

Departure · Shakespeare Beach, England

Arrival · Cap Gris-Nez, France

Pilot / piloting team · Mike Oram

Escort vessel · Gallivant

Ratification / historical recognition · CS&PF listed as supervising organisation by Dover.UK.com

How this record was checked

The individual Dover record supplies 8 September 2012, 6h 55m, direction, nationality, pilot and vessel. Grimsey's own career page corroborates the record year. The crew's published accounts supply the departure location and approximate clock. No original observer report was inspected.

Dover.UK.com: Trent Grimsey, 8 September 2012

Checked 2026-10-30

Trent Grimsey: official career summary

Checked 2026-10-30

LoneSwimmer: eyewitness discussion of Grimsey's start

Checked 2026-10-30

LoneSwimmer: crew account and start video

Checked 2026-10-30

World Championships — men’s 25 km

Open-water swimming · Race

2009 · exact day not confirmed

Rome, Italy

Silver medal in 5:26:50.7.

Published distance · 25 km

Placing / category · 2nd · men

Published account checked

How this event was checked

HistoFINA printed page 14 gives the 2009 result. World Aquatics’ interview names the Rome event; Grimsey’s official career page links that silver to his Channel identity. The exact event day is not taken from uninspected secondary results.

FINA HistoFINA: Open Water, October 2019

Checked 2026-10-31

Supports · Selected individual podium rows: printed pages 13–14 and 53.

Limitations · Official retrospective statistics, not original timing sheets. Fractional seconds are preserved in result text rather than rounded.

World Aquatics: interview with Trent Grimsey

Checked 2026-10-31

Supports · 2009 Rome 25km silver and Sharjah 10km victory, with direct athlete interview.

Trent Grimsey: official career biography

Checked 2026-10-31

Supports · Identity bridge connecting his 2009 world silver to the 2012 English Channel record.

Sharjah 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup

Open-water swimming · Race

Wednesday, 21 October 2009 (event date)

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Won the men’s race in 1:48:17.25.

Published distance · 10 km

Placing / category · 1st · men

Published account checked

How this event was checked

HistoFINA printed page 53: 2009 series race 12, 21 October, Sharjah; named men’s winner and exact hundredths. World Aquatics’ athlete interview corroborates the victory and his official site bridges the Channel identity.

FINA HistoFINA: Open Water, October 2019

Checked 2026-10-31

Supports · Selected individual podium rows: printed pages 13–14 and 53.

Limitations · Official retrospective statistics, not original timing sheets. Fractional seconds are preserved in result text rather than rounded.

World Aquatics: interview with Trent Grimsey

Checked 2026-10-31

Supports · 2009 Rome 25km silver and Sharjah 10km victory, with direct athlete interview.

Trent Grimsey: official career biography

Checked 2026-10-31

Supports · Identity bridge connecting his 2009 world silver to the 2012 English Channel record.

Australian representative

2006–2012

Competed as a member of the Australian Swim Team.

World championship silver

2009

Won a silver medal at the world championships in Italy.

International racing success

2012

Won the marathon-swimming Grand Prix series and set a Capri–Napoli record.

English Channel record

8 September 2012

Completed England–France in 6h 55m.

Hall of Fame inductions

2018 / 2020

Recognised by the international and Australian marathon-swimming halls of fame.