Also recorded as Yvetta Hlavacova, Yvetta Tulip Hlaváčová.
Biography
Yvetta Hlaváčová is a Czech swimmer whose career spans elite pool racing, international open-water competition and solo Channel swimming. World Aquatics lists her in both swimming and open-water disciplines. Her 2021 Hall of Fame biography credits nine years on the FINA World Cup circuit and 82 Czech pool titles, placing her Channel performances within a much broader sporting career.
She first crossed from England to France on 1 August 2005 in 8:42. The Channel Swimming Association’s published record also names her the year’s fastest woman. Returning on 5 August 2006, she completed a one-way swim in 7:25:15 with Michael Oram on Gallivant. That swim was part of an attempted two-way crossing, so the successful one-way record must be kept separate from the intended longer challenge. Guinness recognises the CS&PF women’s record while noting that CSA still acknowledges Penny Lee Dean’s mark.
Hlaváčová completed a third Channel swim in September 2007 in 7:53. In a later interview she described the appeal of swimming alone and competing against her own limits after years of crowded international races. She also undertook staged Vltava charity swims in 2007 and 2008. Her election to the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021 recognised achievements across these different forms of endurance swimming.
Selected Channel swim records
First Channel solo and CSA award
Ratifying body's record checked
Recorded swim date · Monday, 1 August 2005 · Start or finish date not specified by the source
Elapsed swim time · 8h 42m
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 · Viking Princess
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming Association
How this record was checked
CSA successful-swim detail 3174 names Hlavacova, Czech Republic, solo one-way England-to-France, completed 2005 in 08:42 and the fastest-woman award. CS&PF historical detail 443976 independently supplies 1 August and Reg Brickell Jr / Viking Princess. Published CSA recognition was inspected; the original observer log was not.
CSA: Yvetta Hlavacova, record 3174
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Published successful 2005 Czech one-way England-to-France solo in 08:42 and Fastest Swim by a Lady award.
Limitations · CSA page supplies year only; exact date and crew come from the separately inspected CS&PF historical detail.
CS&PF: Yvetta Hlaváčová, record 443976
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · 1 August 2005, 08:42:00, England-to-France, CSA, Reg Brickell Jr / Viking Princess.
CS&PF women’s Channel record
Sources disagree
One completed leg of a two-way attempt. Guinness recognises the CS&PF women’s record and notes that CSA still acknowledges Penny Lee Dean.
Recorded swim date · Saturday, 5 August 2006 · Start or finish date not specified by the source
Elapsed swim time · 7h 25m 15s
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 · CS&PF publishes departure 08:10:40 and arrival 15:35:55 with a generic swim date. Exact phase dates and a time-zone basis are not separately supplied; clocks remain unstructured.
Format · Solo · 1-way
Direction · England → France
Departure · Shakespeare Beach, England
Arrival · 0.3 miles south of Cap Gris Nez, France
Pilot / piloting team · Michael Oram
Escort vessel · Gallivant
Official observers · Frank Richards
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation
How this record was checked
CS&PF detail 444043 identifies the successful first England-to-France leg in 07:25:15 and explicitly says part of a two-way attempt. Guinness record 86355 independently identifies it as the CS&PF women’s record, while noting CSA still acknowledges Penny Lee Dean. The dispute concerns record recognition across bodies, not a conflicting elapsed time.
CS&PF: Yvetta Hlaváčová, record 444043
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · 5 August 2006 one-way solo, 07:25:15, Michael Oram / Gallivant, Frank Richards, landing south of Cap Gris Nez and attempted two-way scope.
Limitations · Generic date and clocks do not independently identify phase dates.
Guinness World Records: fastest female English Channel crossing
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · Record holder, Czech nationality, 5 August 2006 and Shakespeare Beach to Cap Gris Nez.
Limitations · Rounds to 7 hours 25 minutes and explicitly monitors the CS&PF record while noting CSA still acknowledges Penny Lee Dean.
ISHOF 2021 Yearbook: Yvetta Hlaváčová
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · PDF page 72 (index 71), IMSHOF section: Channel record, three crossings, nine years of FINA World Cup racing, Czech titles and staged charity swims.
Limitations · Career totals are attributed to the 2021 honouree biography, not independently reconstructed.
Third Channel solo
Published account checked
Recorded swim date · Saturday, 8 September 2007 · Start or finish date not specified by the source
Elapsed swim time · 7h 53m 0s
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 · The individual entry reports departure 11:00:00 and arrival 18:53:00. With only a generic swim date supplied, neither clock receives an inferred phase date.
Format · Solo · 1-way
Direction · England → France
Pilot / piloting team · Michael Oram
Escort vessel · Gallivant
Official observers · Billy Beadle; Cliff Golding
Ratification / historical recognition · Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation
How this record was checked
Matched CS&PF detail 444158 and the 8th September row of the 2007 Solo Swims table: 07:53:00, one-way England-to-France, Michael Oram / Gallivant. The detail names Billy Beadle and Cliff Golding as observers. Annual results retain the ratification disclaimer; no committee decision or original observer log was inspected.
CS&PF: Yvetta Hlaváčová, record 444158
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · 8 September 2007 solo, 07:53:00, route, crew and reported clocks.
CS&PF: 2007 successful swims
Checked 2026-10-31
Supports · 8th September Solo Swims row: Yvetta Hlavacova, Mike Oram / Gallivant, 7:53:00.
Limitations · The annual list says results remain unofficial until committee ratification; no committee decision or observer log was inspected.
CZE