Sue Oldham
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Marathon Swimming Accomplishments
Rottnest Channel Swim – solo 19.7K crossings in Western Australia in 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, February 2009 & May 2009
English Channel – solo crossings from England to France in 2006 and 2010. Both were world records for the oldest woman to successfully cross the English Channel.
English Channel – relay crossing from England to France in 2006. Member of the oldest relay team to swim the English Channel; 30 days later, she set a solo world record as the oldest female.
English Channel
After completing her 17 hour and 11 minute crossing of the English Channel in 2010, Sue explained, "Every hour of the swim I thought about someone special in my life, and that would motivate me to continue - that's what took me to the end. When you start something you have to finish it, don't you? No point in getting out when it gets a bit tough."
Half Century Club of the English Channel
The grit and determination of English Channel swimmers is admirable at any age. These Half Century Club adventurers prove that some things do get better with age:
1. Roger Allsop (England), 70 years and 4 months, England-to-France in 17:51 in 2011
2. George Brunstad (USA), 70 years and 3 days, England-to-France in 15:59 in 2004
3. Clifford Batts (Australia), 67, France-to-English in 18:37 in 1987
4. Ashby Harper (USA), 65, E/F in 13:52 in 1982
5. Roger Allsopp (England), 65, E/F in 15:30 in 2006
6. Sue Oldham (Australia), 65, E/F in 17:11 in 2010
7. Michael Read (England), 63, E/F in 15:29 in 2004
8. Veljko Rogosic (Croatia), 63, E/F in 11:27 in 2004
9. Robert West (USA), 61, E/F in 15:35 in 1996
10. Sue Oldham (Australia), 61, E/F in 16:03 in 2006
11. Jean-Paul Madelenat (France), 60, E/F in 14:46 in 2002
12. Linda Ashmore (England), 60, E/F in 15:11 in 2007
13. Vijaya Claxton (USA), 59, E/F in 22:27 in 2007
14. James (Doc) Counsilman (USA), 58, E/F in 13:07
15. Mo Siegel (USA), 58, E/F in 14:18
16. Carol Sing (USA), 57, E/F in 12:32 in 1999
17. Kevin Murphy (England), 57, E/F in 15:14 in 2006
18. Alan Macleay (England), 57, E/F in 22:14 in 2006
19. Peter Urrea (USA), 56, E/F in 14:38 in 1996
20. Kevin Murphy (England), 56, E/F in 13:35 in 2005
21. Jackie Cobell (England), 56, E/F in 28:44 in 2010
22. Duke Dahlin (USA), 55, E/F in 14:37 in 2003
23. Christopher Blakeslee (USA), 54, E/F in 14:44 in 2004
24. Michael Miller (USA), 54, E/F in 16:10 in 2008
25. Otto Thaning (South Africa), 53, E/F in 10:29 in 1994
26. Klaus Stutzer (Germany), 53, E/F in 14:09 in 1997
27. Morris Finkelstein (USA), 53, E/F in 15:21 in 2003
27. Bill Hoehn (USA), 53, E/F in 15:53 in 2004
28. Hugh Tucker (South Africa), 53, E/F in 13:37 in 2004
29. Tom Hecker (USA), 53, E/F in 15:21 in 2005
30. Steven Smith (England), 53, E/F in 14:28 in 2005
32. Vasanti Niemz (Germany), 53, E/F in 16:50 in 2010
33. Dan Richards (USA), 53, E/F in 12:32 in 2010
34. Henry Eckstein (USA), 52, E/F in 14:24 in 2000
35. Peter Jurzynski (USA), 53, E/F in 17:18 in 2004
36. Peter Jurzynski (USA), 52, E/F in 14:57 in 2003
37. Dennis Dressel (USA), 52, E/F in 12:08 in 2003
38. Jorge Rikarday (Mexico), 52, E/F in 20:24 in 2003
39. Tim Cheesman (England), 52, E/F in 15:07 in 2007
40. Elizabeth Fry (USA), 52, E/F/E in 24:39 (13:20 + 11:19) in 2011
41. Tim Cheesman (England), 52, E/F in 15:07 in 2007
42. Gilles Chalandon (USA), 52, E/F in 14:31 in 2010
43. Kevin Murphy (England), 51, E/F in 14:29 in 2000
44. Peter Jurzynski (USA), 51, E/F in 17:08 in 2002
45. Anne Cleveland (USA), 51, E/F in 11:33 in 2007
46. Michael Ball (England), 51, E/F in 12:55 in 2009
47. Nancy Steadman-Martin (USA), 50, E/F in 11:20 in 2004
48. James Fitzpatrick (USA), 50, E/F in 14:32 in 2005
49. Frank Chalmers (Scotland), 50, E/F in 16:48 in 2005
50. Timothy Cheesman (England), 50, E/F in 16:14 in 2005
51. Terry O'Brien (Australia), 50, E/F in 15:50 in 2006
52. Antonio Argüelles (Mexico), 50, E/F in 12:54 in 2009
53. Jim Bayles (USA), 50, E/F in 10:59 in 2002
World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year
Sue was nominated for the 2010 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year for her exploits. Her nomination was as follows:
65-year-old gregarious Sue Oldham entered the Half Century Club as the oldest woman to ever cross the English Channel - for the second time, an unprecedented feat in itself. Sue's time of 17 hours and 11 minutes from England to France was a repeat of her first record-breaking swim in 2006 when she initially joined the exclusive club of solo marathon swimmers over the age of 50 who successfully crossed the English Channel.
From her home base of Australia where she continues to swim the Rottnest Channel year after year, she travels the world to share her passion for the sport with others. As a personable, humble, forthright woman fully enjoying her life and pushing herself to the extremes, Sue Oldham is nominated as the 2010 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.
Future Swims
As opportunities for older women to participate in endurance sports increases, the Half Century Club list will undoubtedly grow to include many more females over the next generation. With Sue leading the way as she is planning another English Channel swim in 2014 when she is 69 years old, many will similarly find the Fountain of Youth in the open water.
Open Water Wednesday Interview
Young At Heart: Sue Oldham is the Oldest Woman to Swim the English Channel
Click HERE to access the full-length interview.
