Pat Gallant-Charette

Pat Gallant-Charette is an inductee (Honor Swimmer) in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, Class of 2019

Pat Gallant-Charette's Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming certificate

Gabe Souza took a series of photos for Down East Oceans 7, a profile of Pat Gallant-Charette

Pat Gallant-Charette was nominated for the 2018 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year by the World Open Water Swimming Association

Pat Gallant-Charette is a nominee for the 2017 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year, part of the WOWSA Awards, an annual recognition of outstanding men, women, performances and offerings around the globe sponsored by the World Open Water Swimming Association

Pat Gallant-Charette, a nominee for the 2016 WOWSA Awards, a recognition of outstanding men, women, performances and offerings around the globe sponsored by the World Open Water Swimming Association in the World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year category

Pat Gallant-Charette

Pat Gallant-Charette before her Catalina Channel swim

Pat Gallant-Charette after her Catalina Channel swim

On 27 August, 65-year-old Pat Gallant-Charette (USA) celebrating her 5th channelversary of her 15 hour 57 minute English Channel crossing, Shelley Taylor-Smith (Australia) celebrating her 21st channelversary of her 9 hour 27 minute English Channel crossing, and 82-year-old Montserrat Tresserras (Spain) celebrating her 53rd channelversary of her 21 hour 7 minute English Channel crossing at Varne Ridge near Dover

Top row left to right: Marcia Benjamin, Shelley Taylor-Smith, Ger Kennedy, Lewis Pugh, Angel More, Antonio Argüelles, Dan Simonelli, Jessi Harewicz, Pat Gallant-Charette, Adrian Sarchet. Bottom row left to right: Steven Munatones, Ross Edgley, Aaron Peirsol, Ram Barkai at the 2018 Open Water Summit at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, California

Pat Gallant-Charette is listed in the 2019 Guinness World Record book

Pat Gallant-Charette is a 71-year-old American marathon swimmer and retired nurse from Westbrook, Maine.

1 Open Water Swimming Highlights
2 Open Water Swimming Records & Honors
3 2018 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year Nomination
4 2017 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year Nomination
5 2017 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year Nominees
6 2016 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year Nomination
7 2012 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year Nomination
8 Videos
9 Tsugaru Channel Crossing
10 North Channel Crossing
11 Molokai Channel Crossing
12 Solo Swims of Ontario Ceremony
13 Catalina Channel Half Century Club
14 World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Women
15 2017 World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Women
16 Pat Gallant-Charette's Santa Barbara Channel Crossing
17 External links

Open Water Swimming Highlights

She was inducted as an Honor Swimmer in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in the Class of 2019.
She has completed 6 of the 7 Oceans Seven channels and 4 lakes of the Still Water Eight during her career.
She serves as a Marathon Swimming Mentor.
She completed the Original Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming in 2022:
- On 22 August 2011, she completed a 33.5 km crossing of the English Channel in 15 hours 57 minutes.
- On 24 August 2016, she completed a 35 km crossing of the North Channel in 14 hours 22 minutes.
- On 19 September 2022, she completed a 27 km crossing of the Bristol Channel in 12 hours 55 minutes 49 seconds observed by Tom Chapman, crewed by Jean Murdoch-Gallant, and escorted by pilots Aston Grindrod and Elliot Briskham
She is the founder of the annual global swim event Valentine's Day...Swim for your Heart to bring an awareness of heart disease and its prevention.
In 2008, her first attempt at an English Channel crossing was a DNF when currents forced her back 1.7 miles from the French coast.
In 2009, her second attempt of the English Channel was canceled in 2009 due to weather conditions.
On 16 June 2010, she crossed the 14.4 km Strait of Gibraltar in 3 hours 28 minutes at the age of 59 years and 134 days as the third fastest woman of all time and the fastest American woman.
On 22 August 2011, she crossed the 33.5 km English Channel in 15 hours 57 minutes at the age of 60 on her third attempt to join the Half Century Club for the second time.
In 2011, the Channel Swimming Association awarded her the 2011 "Rosemary George Award for the Most Meritorious Swim of the Year".
On 18 October 2011, she crossed the 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Santa Catalina Island to the Southern California mainland in 14 hours 11 minutes 40 seconds at the age of 60 to become the oldest woman to complete the Catalina Channel and become a member of the Catalina Channel Half Century Club.
In 2011, she was nominated for the 2011 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.
In 2011, she received the O'Clee Jubilee Award from the Channel Swimming Association
In 2012, she was nominated for the 2012 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.
In 2012, she was selected as one of 101 women worldwide as "101 Movers and Shakers" in the world of open water swimming.
On 13 September 2012, she crossed the 19.5 km Tsugaru Channel from Honshu to Hokkaido in Japan in 19 hours 36 minutes on her second attempt at the age of 61.
In 2013, she was selected as one of 101 women worldwide as "101 Movers and Shakers" in the world of open water swimming.
In August 2013, she attempted to swim the North Channel. After swimming for 16 hours 43 minutes and less than one mile from the finish, the tidal flow changed directions and prevented her from completing her swim.
In 2014, after swimming for several hours in Cook Strait in New Zealand in January, her swim was stopped due to strong tidal flow.
On 24 August 2016, she crossed the 35 km North Channel from Northern Ireland to Scotland in 14 hours 22 minutes on her third attempt at the age of 65 years 204 days old which is a record for the oldest female to swim across the North Channel under the escort of pilot Quinton Nelson.
In 2016, she was nominated for the 2016 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.
On 20 May 2017, she crossed the 42 km Molokai Channel in 23 hours 54 minutes, setting a record for the oldest female to swim across Molokai Channel at the age of 66 years 107 days.
On 17 June 2017, she crossed the English Channel in 17 hours 55 minutes at the age of 66, setting the record for the oldest female to swim across the English Channel. She received the O’Clee Jubilee Trophy for Oldest Successful Swimmer and the first recipient of the Mercedes Gleitze Trophy for Female Pioneer Swim from the Channel Swimming Association. Recorded in the Guinness World Record Book, September 2018 issue.
On 30 August 2017, she swam 51 km across Lake Ontario in 24 hours 28 minutes along the Marilyn Bell Route from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario to Marilyn Bell Park, Toronto), setting the record for the oldest person (66 years and 209 days) to successfully cross Lake Ontario to add to her 24-hour Club record
In 2017, she was nominated for the 2017 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.
On 30 June 2018, she completed the 20 Bridges swim around Manhattan Island in 10 hours 53 minutes 27 seconds to become the oldest person in history to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming at the age of 67.
On 7 August 2018, she completed a 34.2 km crossing of Lake Tahoe to become the oldest person in history to complete this swim at 67 years 186 days in 20 hours 32 seconds and setting the record of 20 hours 32 seconds for the slowest successful crossing.
On 19 August 2018, she completed a 37 km crossing of Loch Ness in Scotland in 13 hours 45 minutes 45 seconds at the age of 67 years and 198 days.
On 22 August 2018, she completed a 16.9 km crossing of Lake Windermere in England at the age of 67 years and 201 days.
On 1 March 2019, she did not complete a 23 km attempt of the Cook Strait in New Zealand between the North Island and South Island.
On 1 August 2019, she completed a south-to-north 40.2 km crossing of Lake Memphremagog between Newport in the American state of Vermont and Magog in the Canadian province of Quebec in 24 hours 8 minutes becoming the Oldest Person at the age of 68 years and 180 days to successfully swim the length following the Marathon Swimmers Federation rules.
On 18 September 2021, she completed a 19.6 km crossing from Anacapa Island to the California mainland in 9 hours 22 minutes to become the oldest individual to complete the California Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming at the age of 70 years and 228 days.
On 25 April 2022, she completed a 20.5 km crossing from north to south across Sea of Galilee in Israel at the age of 71 years and 82 days in 8 hours 22 minutes.
On 19 September 2022, she completed a 16-mile crossing of the Bristol Channel Sandy Bay, Porthcawl to Devon in the UK in 12 hours 55 minutes and became the oldest person to complete the Original Triple Crown of Marathon Swimming at the age of 71 years and 228 days.

Open Water Swimming Records & Honors

Gallant-Charette has set the following records during her career:

Sea of Galilee, oldest woman to cross at the age of 71 years and 82 days in 8 hours 22 minutes on 25 April 2022.
Catalina Channel, oldest woman to cross at the age of 60 years and 258 days in 14 hours 11 minutes on 18 October 2011 from Catalina Island to the mainland of California. It was later broken by Carol Hayden.
Tsugaru Channel, oldest woman to cross at the age of 61 years and 224 days in 19 hours 36 minutes on 13 September 2012
North Channel, oldest woman to cross at the age of 65 years and 204 days in 14 hours 22 minutes on 24 August 2016
Molokai Channel, oldest woman to cross at the age of 66 years and 107 days in 23 hours 54 minutes on 20 May 2017
English Channel, oldest woman to cross at the age of 66 years and 135 days in 17 hours 55 minutes on 17 June 2017
Lake Ontario, oldest woman to cross at the age of 66 years and 209 days in 24 hours 28 minutes on August 30, 2017
She received the 2017 Mercedes Gleitze Trophy from the Channel Swimming Association.
She became the oldest person to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming at the age of 67.
She became the oldest female to complete a 45.9 km circumnavigation swim around Manhattan Island in New York on 30 June 2018 in 10 hours 53 minutes at the age of 67 years 148 days in the 20 Bridges Swim.
She became the oldest individual to complete a 34.2 km crossing of Lake Tahoe from south to north on 7 August 2018 at 67 years and 186 days. She also set the record for the slowest successful crossing.
Oldest individual to complete a 37 km crossing of Loch Ness in Scotland from north to south in 13 hours 45 minutes 45 seconds at the age of 67 years 198 days on 19 August 2018.
She was named one of the World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Women in 2017 by the World Open Water Swimming Association.
She was named one of the World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Women in 2018 by the World Open Water Swimming Association.
She was named one of the World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Women in 2019 by the World Open Water Swimming Association.
Lake Memphremagog, oldest person to cross at the age of 68 years and 180 days in 24 hours 8 minutes on 01 August 2019.
On 1 August 2019 she became the Oldest to Complete the Triple Crown of Lake Monster Swims ((or the cryptozoological Triple Crown) at the age of 68 years and 180 days:
- Lake Tahoe on 7 August 2018 at age 67 years and 186 days in the presence of Tessie or the Tahoe Tessie
- Loch Ness on 19 August 2018 at age 67 years and 198 days in the presence of Nessie or the Loch Ness Monster
- Lake Memphremagog on 1 August 2019 at age 68 years and 180 days in the presence of Memphre
California Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming on 18 September 2021 at the age of 70 years and 228 days
- Lake Tahoe on 7 August 2018 in 20 hours 32 seconds at 67 years and 186 days
- Catalina Channel on 18 October 2011 in 14 hours 11 minutes at the age of 60 years and 258 days
- Santa Barbara Channel on 18 September 2021 in 9 hours 22 minutes at the age of 70 years and 228 days
On 25 April 2022, she became the oldest person to complete a 20.5 km crossing of the Sea of Galilee in Israel at the age of 71 in 8 hours 22 minutes.
On 19 September 2022, she became the oldest person to complete a 27 km crossing of the Bristol Channel in 12 hours 55 minutes 49 seconds and the oldest person to complete the Original Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming at the age of 71.

2018 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year Nomination

She was nominated for the 2018 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year by the World Open Water Swimming Association: Pat Gallant-Charette continues to amaze year after year. The 67-year-old retired nurse became the oldest woman to complete the 20 Bridges Swim around Manhattan Island in New York (10 hours 53 minutes) and the oldest person to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming and the 37 km Loch Ness in Scotland (13 hours 45 minutes). She became the oldest person in history to complete 34.2 km crossing of Lake Tahoe in California (20 hours 32 seconds) while setting the record for the slowest successful swim. For good measure, she also completed a 16.9 km crossing of Lake Windermere in England. After having set records in the Catalina Channel, Tsugaru Channel, North Channel, Molokai Channel, English Channel, and Lake Ontario earlier in her career, Gallant-Charette continued her record-setting ways from Lake Tahoe to Loch Ness on a global tour. For her deeply felt appreciation for all those who support and cheer for her, for her visible joy in crossing channels and swimming in lakes and rivers, and for establishing herself as one of the most humble luminaries in the marathon swimming world, Pat Gallant-Charette of the USA is a worthy nominee for the 2018 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.

2017 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year Nomination

Pat Gallant-Charette continues to amaze year after year. In 2017, the 66-year-old retired nurse become the oldest woman to cross the 42 km Molokai Channel in Hawaii in 23 hours 54 minutes, to complete a 52 km crossing of Lake Ontario in Canada in 24 hours 28 minutes, and to cross the 34 km English Channel in 17 hours 55 minutes. The hard-working, consistently cheerful grandmother has never enjoyed an easy road to her successes as she faces waves, current, marine life and winds, but she always passes Mother Nature’s challenging conditions with an otherworldly determination. For her deeply felt appreciation for all those who support and cheer for her swims, for her visible joy in crossing channels and lakes, for establishing herself as one of the most humble luminaries in the marathon swimming world, Pat Gallant-Charette is a worthy nominee for the 2017 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.

2017 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year Nominees

Gallant-Charette was nominated for the 2017 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year by the World Open Water Swimming Association:

1. Katherine Batts (Great Britain)
2. Dr. Caroline Block (USA)
3. Arianna Bridi (Italy)
4. Chloë McCardel (Australia)
5. Ana Marcela Cunha (Brazil)
6. Pat Gallant-Charette (USA)
7. Ludmila Maller (Russia)
8. Jaimie Monahan (USA)
9. Aurélie Muller (France)
10. Barbara Pozzobón (Italy)
11. Sarah Thomas (USA)
12. Julia Wittig (Germany)

2016 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year Nomination

Gallant-Charette was nominated for the 2016 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year award. Her World Open Water Swimming Association nomination reads,

Pat Gallant-Charette continues to raise the bar and push the envelope what an older swimmer can do. At the age of 65, three years after she swam for nearly 17 hours and was pulled less than one mile from the finish, the American nurse returned to the notoriously fickle North Channel between Northern Ireland and Scotland. The dynamic nature of the world’s channels have always put the hard-working grandmother to the test, but her smile remains as brilliant at the finish as it is in the beginning regardless of the outcome. Always cheerful and deeply appreciative to her crew and supportive family, Gallant-Charette became the oldest woman to complete a crossing of the North Channel in 14 hours 22 minutes. For becoming the oldest woman to complete a crossing of the Catalina Channel, Tsugaru Channel, and North Channel, for her charity work and founding of the Valentine's Day...Swim for your Heart that brought awareness of heart disease and its prevention, for her warm-hearted joy that she permeates the sport and the community around her, Pat Gallant-Charette is a worthy nominee for the 2016 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.

2012 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year Nomination

Gallant-Charette was nominated for the 2012 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year award. Her World Open Water Swimming Association nomination reads,

Imagine a sport where at the age of 61, you can be considered to be one of the best in the athletic world. Pat Gallant-Charette, a full-time nurse from Maine, is one such individual. But the road to greatness is never easy and the world’s waterways have always put the hard-working grandmother to the test. Despite the tremendous physiological stress she faces and the long hours she endures as she traverses channels around the world, her smile is as brilliant at the finish as it is in the beginning. Always cheerful and deeply appreciative to her crew and supportive family, Gallant-Charette makes every swim a joy to witness from her marathon swims to local charity swims like Swim for your Heart. She is currently tied for seventh in the global Oceans Seven rankings after she notched another difficult channel under her cap with a 19 hour 36 minute crossing of the treacherous Tsugaru Channel in Japan. She failed on her first attempt, but insisted on a second try in the foreign land. For her success across one of the most difficult channels in the world, for the obvious joy she brings to the sport and the community around her, for her promotion of Swim for your Heart and her surge up the Oceans Seven rankings, Pat Gallant-Charette is a worthy nominee for the 2012 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.

Videos

Tsugaru Channel Crossing

North Channel Crossing

Video by Fergal Somerville

Molokai Channel Crossing

Footage by Mike Scott

Solo Swims of Ontario Ceremony

Hosted by Dr. Marilyn Korzekwa, President of the Solo Swims of Ontario

Catalina Channel Half Century Club

1. Jim Clifford (USA), 62 years 11 months, CM in 9:49 on 28 September 2014
2. Bob West (USA), 62, CM in 15:49 in 1998
3. Gary Greenwood (USA), 62, CM in 13:08 in 2004
4. Pat Gallant-Charette (USA), 60, CM in 14:11 in 2011
5. Mo Siegel (USA), 60, CM in 13:08 in 2011
6. Scott Lautman (USA), 60 CM in 12:09 in 2013
7. Bob Needham (USA), 58, CM in 13:10 in 2011
8. Tom Hecker (USA), 57, CM in 10:45 in 2009
9. Richard Knepper (USA), 56, MC in 11:56 in 2005
10. Barbara Held (USA), 56, CM in 9:36 in 2010
11. Mark Smitherman (USA), 56, CM in 11:52 in 2014
12. Carol Sing (USA), 55, CM in 10:38 in 1997
13. Bill Hoehn (USA), 55, CM in 12:57 in 2005
14. Kevin Murphy (Great Britain), 54, CM in 15:23 in 2003
15. Roger Finch (South Africa), 54, CM in 9:45:02 in 2012
16. Dave Van Mouwerik (USA), 54,, CM in 12:09:07 in 2012
17. Ned Denison (Ireland), 54, CM 8:50:04 in 2012
18. Peter Tanham (Australia), 54, CM in 10:07 in 2014
19. Anthony McCarley (USA), 54, CM in 13:00.3 in 2014
20. Nick Almos-Lau (Mexico), 53, CM in 12:40 in 1999
21. James Fitzpatrick (USA), 53, CM in 14:59 in 2008 (to Newport Beach)
22. Jim McConica (USA), 53, CM in 10:19 in 2004
23. Douglas McConnell (USA), 53, CM in 12:41:13 in 2012
24. David Cooper (USA), 52, CM in 13:19 in 2005
25. Dan Richards (USA), 52, CM in 10:10 2008
26. Chris Burke (USA), 52, CM in 11:22 in 2014
27. Alan Bell (USA), 51, CM in 9:28 in 2001
28. Chris Palfrey (Australia), 51, CM in 10:30 in 2009
29. Lynn Kubasek (USA), 51, CM in 15:53 in 2009
30. Daniel Robinson (USA), 51, CM in 9:57 in 2008
31. Ron Collins (USA), 51, CM in 10:05 on 10 September 2013
32. Antonio Argüelles (Mexico), 50, CM in 10:25 in 2009
33. William Newbern (USA), 50, CM in 12:48 in 2005
34. Ray Meltvedt (USA), 50, CM in 15:25 in 2010
35. Suzie Dods (USA), 50, MC in 18:36 in 2010
36. Dale Petranech (USA), 50, CM in 13:28 in 1985
37. John Hill (USA), 50, CM in 19:15 in 1985
38. Frank Reynolds (USA), 50, CM in 10:34 in 1987
39. Jim Barber (USA), 50, CM in 8:43 in 2010
40. Sue Free (USA), 50, CM in 11:23 in 2012
41. Bridgette Hobart Janeczko (USA), 50, CM 11:27:16 in 2012
42. Hendrik Meerman (USA), CM, 50, 12:48:30 in 2012
43. Scott Tapley (USA), MC, 50, 17:43:12 in 2014

World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Women

Gallant-Charette was named to the list of 2015 World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Women by the World Open Water Swimming Association.

2017 World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Women

Gallant-Charette was named to the 2017 World's 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Women by the World Open Water Swimming Association. The women are listed below, alphabetically by last name:

1. Patti Bauernfeind, marathon/channel/relay swimmer from the USA
2. Carina Bruwer, marathon/channel/charity event swimmer from South Africa
3. Charlotte Brynn, marathon/channel/ice swimmer and coach from New Zealand/USA
4. Jessie Campbell, ice/winter swimmer from Great Britain
5. Kimberley Chambers, marathon/channel/extreme/cross-border swimmer from New Zealand/USA
6. Devon Clifford, marathon/channel/open water swimmer from the USA
7. Jackie Cobell, channel/extreme/ice swimmer from Great Britain
8. Lorna Cochran, open water swimmer from South Africa
9. Olive Conroy, ice/winter swimmer from Ireland
10. Anna DeLozier, ice/winter swimmer from the USA
11. Beth French, channel swimmer from Great Britain
12. Elizabeth Fry, marathon/channel swimmer and event organizer from USA
13. Pat Gallant-Charette, channel/marathon swimmer from the USA
14. Pilar Geijo, professional marathon swimmer from Argentina
15. Ines Hahn, ice/winter/professional marathon swimmer from Germany
16. Jessi Harewicz, marathon/channel swimmer from Canada
17. Mariel Hawley Dávila, marathon/channel/cross-border swimmer from Mexico
18. Bárbara Hernández Huerta, winter/extreme swimmer from Chile
19. Bridgette Hobart, event organizer and marathon/channel swimmer from the USA
20. Elaine Howley, marathon/charity/ice swimmer and writer from the USA
21. Linda Kaiser, channel swimmer, advisor and administrator from the USA
22. Lori King, marathon/channel swimmer from the USA
23. Tita Llorens, marathon/channel swimmer from Spain
24. Marcy MacDonald, DPM, marathon/channel swimmer from the USA
25. Elina Makïnen, ice/winter swimmer from Finland
26. Angela Maurer, professional marathon swimmer and Olympian from Germany
27. Chloë McCardel, marathon/channel swimmer and coach from Australia
28. Tiffany McQueen, ocean/marathon swimmer from the USA
29. Sally Minty-Gravett, marathon/channel swimmer and coach from Great Britain (Jersey)
30. Jaimie Monahan, ice/winter/marathon/channel swimmer from the USA
31. Nuala Moore, marathon/ice swimmer, second, author and lecturer from Ireland
32. Victoria Mori, ice/winter/professional marathon swimmer from Argentina
33. Tina Neill, marathon/channel/backstroker/extreme relay swimmer from the USA
34. Anna-Carin Nordin, Oceans Seven/ice swimmer from Sweden
35. Renata Nováková, ice/winter swimmer from the Czech Republic
36. Magda Okurková, ice/winter swimmer from the Czech Republic
37. Penny Palfrey, channel/marathon/extreme swimmer from Australia
38. Ranie Pearce, marathon/channel swimmer from the USA
39. Cheryl Reinke, marathon swimmer from the USA
40. Charlotte Samuels, marathon/channel swimmer from the USA
41. Susan Simmons, marathon swimmer with Multiple Sclerosis from Canada
42. Kate Steels-Fryatt, polar ice miler and ice/winter swimmer from Great Britain
43. Sarah Thomas, marathon/extreme swimmer from the USA
44. Nora Toledano Cadena, marathon/channel/cross-border swimmer from Mexico
45. Natalie du Toit, professional marathon swimmer and Olympian from South Africa
46. Wendy Trehiou, marathon/channel swimmer from Great Britain (Jersey)
47. Wendy Van De Sompele, marathon swimmer and administrator from the USA
48. Samantha Whelpton, winter/ice swimmer from South Africa
49. Sabrina Wiedmer, ice/winter/marathon/channel swimmer from Switzerland
50. Julia Wittig, ice/winter swimmer from Germany