Kevin Murphy (swimmer)
Encyclopedia
Kevin Murphy has swum the English Channel
34 times, more than any other man in history. The overall title of greatest number of successful English Channel swims is held by Alison Streeter
with 43 to her name.
Kevin's total of 34 includes three double-channel swims. He also holds the record for the earliest Channel crossing of the year, set on 29 May 1990.
In 1964, aged just 15, he completed his first long distance swim - 6 hours 29 minutes for the 10 miles of Windermere
.
In 1968, he completed his first Channel swim - England to France in 15 hours 15 minutes
In 1970, he became only the third person at that time to complete the two-way Channel swim in 35 hrs 10 mins.
In his 1975 two-way swim, he was ordered out of the water because of awful weather after
swimming non-stop for 52hrs 30mins. At that point he was half way back on what would have been a record breaking third leg. This decision by the boat crew wouldn't have been taken lightly, given his famed stamina and ability to withstand the coldest and harshest water conditions, as typified in 1988, when he won the Loch Lomond
Scottish ASA Centenary Championship. The conditions were so dreadful that none of the other swimmers were actually able to finish the race.
In 2000, 32 years after his first Channel success and at the age of 51, he completed his 32nd crossing of the English Channel in a time of 15 hours 10mins, a time faster than his very first crossing in 1968. He thereby became King of the Channel
, setting a new record for the most successful Channel swims by a man.
He lost this title temporarily, due in part to pursuing several swims overseas and then from being forced to succumb to major shoulder surgery to remove bones spurs, an affliction caused by 40 years of relentless marathon swimming and training.
However, on 29 August 2005, and just 18 months after having surgery, Kevin completed his 33rd crossing in 13 hours 31 mins to become joint holder of the King of the Channel title.
Kevin completed his last (34th) Channel swim on 21 July 2006 in a time of 15 h 14 mins to make him the undisputed King of the Channel.
As of 2006 Kevin still worked as an ITN journalist.
In 2008 he appeared on "The Great British Body" where he was chosen to represent the British male because of his extraordinary achievements
In 2009, Kevin was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
34 times, more than any other man in history. The overall title of greatest number of successful English Channel swims is held by Alison Streeter
Alison Streeter
Alison Streeter MBE is a British long-distance swimmer. She has swum across the English Channel 43 times, more than anyone in the world and earning her the title of Queen of the English Channel. This total includes a triple-channel swim. She also completed seven Channel crossings in one year...
with 43 to her name.
Kevin's total of 34 includes three double-channel swims. He also holds the record for the earliest Channel crossing of the year, set on 29 May 1990.
In 1964, aged just 15, he completed his first long distance swim - 6 hours 29 minutes for the 10 miles of Windermere
Windermere
Windermere is the largest natural lake of England. It is also a name used in a number of places, including:-Australia:* Lake Windermere , a reservoir, Australian Capital Territory * Lake Windermere...
.
In 1968, he completed his first Channel swim - England to France in 15 hours 15 minutes
In 1970, he became only the third person at that time to complete the two-way Channel swim in 35 hrs 10 mins.
In his 1975 two-way swim, he was ordered out of the water because of awful weather after
swimming non-stop for 52hrs 30mins. At that point he was half way back on what would have been a record breaking third leg. This decision by the boat crew wouldn't have been taken lightly, given his famed stamina and ability to withstand the coldest and harshest water conditions, as typified in 1988, when he won the Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond is a freshwater Scottish loch, lying on the Highland Boundary Fault. It is the largest lake in Great Britain by surface area. The lake contains many islands, including Inchmurrin, the largest fresh-water island in the British Isles, although the lake itself is smaller than many Irish...
Scottish ASA Centenary Championship. The conditions were so dreadful that none of the other swimmers were actually able to finish the race.
In 2000, 32 years after his first Channel success and at the age of 51, he completed his 32nd crossing of the English Channel in a time of 15 hours 10mins, a time faster than his very first crossing in 1968. He thereby became King of the Channel
King of the Channel (swimming)
The King of The Channel title is bestowed on the man who has successfully completed more swims of the English Channel than any other. The title as well the accompanied Letona Trophy is awarded by the Channel Swimming Association. The title is currently held by Kevin Murphy who has completed 34...
, setting a new record for the most successful Channel swims by a man.
He lost this title temporarily, due in part to pursuing several swims overseas and then from being forced to succumb to major shoulder surgery to remove bones spurs, an affliction caused by 40 years of relentless marathon swimming and training.
However, on 29 August 2005, and just 18 months after having surgery, Kevin completed his 33rd crossing in 13 hours 31 mins to become joint holder of the King of the Channel title.
Kevin completed his last (34th) Channel swim on 21 July 2006 in a time of 15 h 14 mins to make him the undisputed King of the Channel.
As of 2006 Kevin still worked as an ITN journalist.
In 2008 he appeared on "The Great British Body" where he was chosen to represent the British male because of his extraordinary achievements
In 2009, Kevin was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...