A FURNESS woman has broken the British record for a two-way English Channel swim with an impressive performance.
Becky Lewis, a 32-year-old physiotherapist based in Oxford Street, Barrow, swam from Dover to Calais and back again in just 20 hours and 15 minutes. In doing so, Miss Lewis broke the record for the fastest British two-way crossing, a feat that will cement her position as one of Cumbria's most inspirational sportswomen.
She made the journey down to Dover with her parents and boyfriend, where she met her pilot and waited until conditions are best suited for a swim.
She had to swim at neap tide, when the difference between high and low tide is the least, without too much wind.
Miss Lewis said: "It was actually a bit of a shock when I finished and realised my time was only just over 20 hours. Originally I thought it could have taken me a few hours longer and I didn't know what to expect.
"When I finished the first leg and saw that it had taken me nine hours 59 minutes, I thought my time would be quite slow but I just about matched that time for the return swim, which I was really proud of."
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Miss Lewis already holds the British ladies record for the fastest swim time across the channel, with a time of eight hours 35 minutes, and even though her achievements would be more than most people could ever dream of, she is not one to rest on her laurels.
She said: "When I first got out of the water I thought, 'never again'. I had a few aches and pains, but after a couple of days I had already begun to think that I'll probably give it another go and try to get my time below 20 hours. I have also been looking at other equivalent swims I could try as well."
Miss Lewis does not wear a wetsuit but swims in her ordinary bathing suit and swim hat.
Every 40 minutes she will briefly pause for a drink and a Maxim energy gel but no food.
In the weeks leading up to the event she usually eats a lot of carbohydrates such as pasta to build up her energy. She said: "I am really glad that I could share the experience with my parents and with my boyfriend too, who was able to come on the boat and watch me swim. We had a bit of a celebration when I got home and I'm sure there will be more to come."
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