Hi Everyone! 

My name is Elizabeth. I’m an Ecuadorian-born British, calling the UK my home. 

Ever since my father taught me how to swim when I was a kid, it has been a massive part of my life. I joined my school’s swimming club at the age of five and swam up to University. I qualified to represent the teams, my province, and even Ecuador in international swimming events and competitions, always with great results.

Competing and developing my swimming skills became my passion and my way of living. My life, dominated by a rigorous training routine, gave me a great sense of fulfilment and achievement.

Years went by, and with focus on my professional career, developing in the USA, UK and Dubai, swimming somehow became a secondary focus – adult life priorities, I guess! What I didn’t expect was that leaving my favourite activity would allow my anxiety to creep in. 

2020 was not an easy year for any of us. When COVID hit hospitality, my seemingly structured year to achieve my career goals turned into a “back to basics” standpoint. Performing in this rapidly changing environment boosted survival skills. My anxiety kicked in through many forms, and at times, it was difficult to handle. Swimming was my treatment, therapy, recovery and what I call my cure.

I went on a family trip to Dover. As I trekked along the stunning white
cliffs, I looked across the English Channel towards the coast of France and thought, I can do it! I just pictured myself swimming across the channel, and once the adrenaline kicked in, that image is all I had in my head. Little did I know the challenge I had set up for myself.

But I decided to go ahead with it. I want to prove to myself that with
focus, training, dedication and support I can make it happen. A few weeks later, I finally booked my English Channel Crossing for July 2023.

So, it’s official! Between the 6th and 14th of July 2023, I will be
attempting to make a solo English Chanel Crossing.

I’m training hard every day, getting ready for this challenge; training,
the right diet, and acclimatising to the low temperatures. I love every moment
of this process, even when – or especially when -- it is hard. Never a dull
moment!

Currently, I’m working as a Project Manager for a fantastic company
called help me Angela. Having their support is phenomenal as sometimes combining work and training can be difficult. It also affirms that whilst it will be a solo swim, I am not doing this alone. I have so many people around me who offer their support.

For this reason, I have decided to share my journey by supporting two charities: 

Mind - a charity providing mental health support directly to those
needing it the most

Professors without Borders - a London based charity
providing university-level education across the globe.

The fundraising will occur throughout my training, sporting events and competitions that lead to the day I cross the English Channel.

As part of my preparation for the English Channel crossing, I will be participating in the following races in 2021:

04/07/2021   Bournemouth Pier to Pier       
05/09/2021   Swim the Island, Portoferraio-Elba Island, Italy 
03/10/2021   Oceanman Benidorm  2021