Nathalie Pohl, a 28-year-old extreme swimmer, achieved a remarkable feat on 18 July 2023 when she became the first German woman to swim around the British Channel Island of Jersey. Pohl finished her epic swim in 9:43:27 hours, making her the fourth fastest woman to complete one of the world’s most technically challenging marathon swims.
The Round Jersey swim covers a distance of around 66 kilometres (41 miles), which takes swimmers past some stunning scenery including long sandy beaches and the gentle cliffs of the northern coast. While the currents depend on the tides, swimmers can expect to stay in the water for an exhausting ten to twelve hours.
Upon reaching the finish line at the breakwater in Elizabeth Castle, Pohl expressed her delight at her success: “I set a world record here in Jersey three years ago now. I wanted to come back again and prove what I am capable of. The fact that it went so well this time, too, is something I’m very proud of. And it shows me that the tough training was all worth it.”
Pohl attributes her success to months of hard work and hours of daily training, but acknowledges that swimming in open water can be unpredictable. She described the North Sea as a place “where fortune and misfortune are a hair’s breadth apart”. Pohl experienced both fortune and misfortune in the North Sea, setting a German record for the 34-kilometre swim across the English Channel after failing to complete the same swim on a previous attempt.
Pohl’s next challenge will see her take on the seventh and final stage of the “Ocean’s Seven” in 2024 – the chilly 14-degree waters of the North Channel between Ireland and Scotland. If she succeeds, she will be the 23rd person and the first German woman ever to accomplish it.
Nathalie Pohl, an extreme swimmer from Germany, has established yet another milestone in her career by becoming the first German woman to swim around the British Channel Island of Jersey. On 18 July 2023, Pohl reached the finish line at the breakwater in Elizabeth Castle in an exceptional time of 9:43:27 hours, making her the fourth fastest woman to complete the world’s most technically challenging marathon swims.
The Round Jersey swim covers a distance of around 66 kilometres (41 miles), taking swimmers past some stunning scenery including long sandy beaches and the gentle cliffs of the northern coast. While the currents depend on the tides, swimmers can expect to stay in the water for an exhausting ten to twelve hours.
Pohl expressed her delight at her success, saying: “I set a world record here in Jersey three years ago now. I wanted to come back again and prove what I am capable of. The fact that it went so well this time, too, is something I’m very proud of. And it shows me that the tough training was all worth it.”
The swimmer credits her success to months of hard work and hours of daily training. She also acknowledges the unpredictability of swimming in open water, having experienced both fortune and misfortune in the North Sea. During her first attempt to swim the English Channel, Pohl’s attempt nearly cost her her life, yet she managed to break the German record for the 34-kilometre swim in her second attempt.
Pohl’s next challenge will see her take on the seventh and final stage of the “Ocean’s Seven” in 2024. If she succeeds, she will be the 23rd person and the first German woman ever to accomplish it.
Nathalie Pohl, a 28-year-old extreme swimmer, has made history by becoming the first German woman to swim around the British Channel Island of Jersey. On 18 July 2023, Pohl completed the epic swim in an impressive 9:43:27 hours, becoming the fourth fastest woman to conquer one of the world’s most technically challenging marathon swims.
The Round Jersey swim covers a distance of around 66 kilometres (41 miles) and takes swimmers past some spectacular scenery including long sandy beaches and the gentle cliffs of the northern coast. While the currents depend on the tides, swimmers can expect to stay in the water for a gruelling ten to twelve hours.
Pohl expressed her joy at her success, saying: “I set a world record here in Jersey three years ago now. I wanted to come back again and prove what I am capable of. The fact that it went so well this time, too, is something I’m very proud of. And it shows me that the tough training was all worth it.”
The swimmer credits her success to months of hard work and hours of daily training. She also acknowledges the unpredictable nature of swimming in open water
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.