| Keywords | Description |
|---|---|
| Serpentine | A winding, twisting path or route that bends continuously back and forth, much like the movement of a crawling snake. |
| Formal Ratification | The official, legal approval or confirmation of an agreement, record or achievement by an authorized governing body. |
| Frigid Water | Extremely cold water that presents significant physical hazards, including rapid body heat loss and cold-shock response. |
Pouleth Carbajal, a 24-year-old athlete from Manzanillo, Colima, made history as the first person from her state to complete a solo swim across the English Channel.
Carbajal launched her attempt at 2:12 a.m. from Shakespeare Beach near Dover, England, and reached Wissant, France, later that afternoon. The Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation, or CS&PF, logged her unofficial time at 14 hours, 7 minutes. Powerful ocean currents forced Carbajal to navigate a serpentine 40.6-mile route—nearly double the channel’s narrowest direct distance of 21 miles. While her feat awaits formal ratification, the CS&PF acknowledged her effort as an unofficial success.
Her support vessel carried her coach, Sandra Venegas Ortiz, her mother, Gabriela Cuero, and official observer Karina Almanza, a veteran open-water athlete who completed the crossing in 2018.
Renowned as a premier open-water endurance challenge, the English Channel subjects athletes to frigid water, shifting tides and dense shipping traffic. CS&PF historical records document 3,384 successful solo crossings by 2,728 swimmers, with an average time of 13:34. Germany’s Andreas Waschburger holds the speed record of 6:45:25, set in 2023.
Once validated, Carbajal’s crossing will mark the 88th successful attempt by a Mexican athlete. Countryman David Olvera holds a Guinness World Record for encircling Manhattan Island and previously completed an unassisted open-water swim from Cozumel to Cancún. Carbajal’s success expands Mexico’s growing legacy in international marathon swimming.
Bridging words
These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Athlete | Atleta |
| Distance | Distancia |
| Official | Oficial |
Time to discuss
- What qualities do you think are essential for someone attempting to swim the English Channel?
- How does swimming in open water differ from swimming in a pool?
- What motivates athletes to take on extreme challenges like the English Channel swim?
Let’s Write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph.
- Why is the English Channel considered one of the hardest swims in the world?
- Discuss the significance of Carbajal’s achievement for her community in Colima.
