Popsugar Health & Fitness Athletes Chloe McCardel's Record-Breaking 35th English Channel Swim This Swimmer Just Broke the Men's Record For Most Swims Across the English Channel 18 August 2020 by Maggie Ryan Image Source: Getty / Gareth Fuller - PA Images / Contributor Australian endurance swimmer Chloe McCardel made history on 16 Aug. when she completed her 35th crossing of the English Channel. The 10 hours and 40 minutes of open-water swimming was a staggering achievement in its own right, but it also lands McCardel in the record books: she's now surpassed the men's record for most Channel crossings (British athlete Kevin Murphy has done it 34 times) and has the second most in history behind British swimmer Alison Streeter, who has completed 43 crossings. "Every time I swim the English Channel, it's a special experience," McCardel told Australian news program Sunrise. "I'm particularly in gratitude this year." With coronavirus travel restrictions in place, McCardel wasn't even sure if she'd be able to leave Australia or be allowed to swim the Channel, as the UK government is currently imposing a 14-day quarantine on travellers from France, which would have complicated her return back to England. Related: Chellsie Memmel, 2008 Olympian and Mom of 2, Is Making a Gymnastics Comeback Before her swim, McCardel told the BBC that the Channel Swimming Association had given her the green light. "They said Channel swims are allowed as long as you observe social distancing when you land and don't stay on the shore for more than 10 minutes, which is standard practice for us," she said. McCardel said she was also given an exemption from the Australian government to travel to the UK for her attempt. Incredibly, it was McCardel's fourth Channel crossing in just 16 days. "I've got a lot more muscular soreness than I anticipated," she told ITV. "I don't think I want to swim the Channel again for a while." A survivor of domestic violence, McCardel also hoped to use her swim to raise awareness for victims. "I've . . . been thinking a lot about the people in lockdown, particularly women facing domestic violence," she told the Daily Telegraph prior to her swim. "I'm proud to be able to be a voice for those who don't have one." Check out clips of McCardel's record-breaking swim ahead. Related: Amber Glenn Blends Ice Skating With Popular TikTok Dances, and I Can't Stop Watching McCardel En Route to Her Record View this post on Instagram Film crew getting in my way!! 😜😎 A post shared by Chloë McCardel (@chloemccardel) on Aug 15, 2020 at 10:19pm PDT 1 / 5 McCardel Swimming Through the Night View this post on Instagram So after 8hrs 20mins I’m in French In-shore waters. Meaning about 3 miles (4.8km) to go. But visibility in very poor . A heavy fog. Boat crew a little concerned about getting tied up in a lobster pot. Which would be catastrophic #crossfingers A post shared by Chloë McCardel (@chloemccardel) on Aug 15, 2020 at 9:21pm PDT 2 / 5 McCardel Navigates Shipping Lanes in the Channel View this post on Instagram Entered the Shipping lane in 2hrs 39 mins. Now I have to avoid the huge ships in the dark. Thankfully I have Teddy to guide me! A post shared by Chloë McCardel (@chloemccardel) on Aug 15, 2020 at 2:54pm PDT 3 / 5 Highlights of McCardel's Record-Breaking Swim 4 / 5 McCardel's Sunrise Interview Aussie Chloe McCardel has broken the men's record for the second-most successful crossings of the English Channel after swimming the 33km stretch for the 35th time 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/2DTtqWvlkm— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) August 16, 2020 5 / 5 AthletesSportsSwimming