I've uploaded as many photos as I could to the left here. You can see the rest of them at www.thechannelswimmers.com. Click on Photos, then Channel 2009, then my name for a chronological, photographical summary of the day!

You can also read coverage of my swim in the Dallas Morning News at http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-bigswim_26met.State.Bulldog.16f4791.html. In addition, here's a link to a press release on my alma mater's website: http://www.utdallas.edu/news/2009/07/16-002.php.

In addition, I've uploaded several short videos of the swim to Youtube. You can access them on my channel at www.youtube.com/user/sophiesswim.

Hope you enjoy, and thanks SO MUCH for all your support!!!!

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Hi, friends,

I swam the English Channel on 14 July, 2009, in 14hrs, 33min. It was a really tough swim for much of it, but that made the feeling of stepping onto French soil so much more rewarding! Thank you so much for all your words of encouragement and your support for the IRC-UK!

I'll post more photos here when I have a chance, as well as my swim log. And thanks again!

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I'm going to be swimming the English Channel in July of this summer, and I wanted to use this opportunity to draw attention to a great cause and a good organization. The International Rescue Committee advocates on behalf of and works towards the welfare of millions of refugees worldwide. I volunteered for a while as a family mentor with them, helping a resettled Congolese refugee family get adjusted to life in the US. A year and hundreds of kilometers of training under my belt, and I'm excited that all my effort can go to help those in true need.

The English Channel is often called the Everest of open water swimming. It's about twenty miles from Dover to Cap Gris Nez, but the Channel's powerful currents often make the distance marathon length or longer. In addition, swimmers must face cold temperatures of between 60 and 65 degrees F (16-17 C), as well as the world's busiest shipping lanes and highly variable and often challenging weather.

If you live in the UK and you'd like to see me off or welcome me home, please email me to let me know, and I'll get you directions in Dover. If you're not able to make it, but you'd like to follow my progress, let me know and I'll make sure you're updated during the course of my big day!

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