Heather Roka

Ned Denison hosts an annual Triple Crowner dinner at the end of the Cork Distance Week in Cork, Ireland. On 12 July 2024, Fergal Madden, Paula Yankauskas, Carol Cashell, Gábor Molnár, Milko van Gool, Anita Hartsock, Loren King (first row, left to right) Gina Harden, Liz Fry, Courtney Moates Paulk, Martha Wood, Susan McKay, Laura Lopez Bonilla, Carol Wortman, Matthias Kaßner (second row, left to right) Helen Beveridge, Stephanie Hopson, Rosie Foley, Heather Roka, Kerry Yonushonis, Ned Denison, Bill Shipp, Fionnuala Walsh, Jenny Smith, Simon Olliver, Steve Sutton (third row, left to right) attended

Heather Roka is a 39-year-old American pool and open water swimmer from Fort Myers, Florida, coached by Alexis Price.

Open Water Swimming Highlights

• On 18 August 2025, she completed a 40 km cross-border marathon swim In Search of Memphre in 12 hours 58 minutes at the age of 39, piloted by Vera Rivard and Phil White with support by her mother Cynthia Roka.
• On 23 June 2012, she completed the 20.1 km Swim Around Key West in Florida in 5 hours 19 minutes 33 seconds at the age of 26.
• On 20 September 2014, she completed the 14 km Alligator Lighthouse Swim in Florida in 5 hours 23 minutes 52 seconds at the age of 28.
• On 12 April 2015, she won the 7-mile (11.2 km) Swim Around Lido Key in Florida in 2 hours 50 minutes 23 seconds at the age of 29.
• On 22 April 2017, she won the 37 km Tampa Bay Marathon Swim in Florida in 11 hours 16 minutes at the age of 31.
• She participated in the Mighty Mermaids relay at the 2017 24-mile Tampa Bay Marathon Swim.
• On 24 August 2017, she crossed the English Channel from England to France in 12 hours 13 minutes 53 seconds at the age of 31.
• On 31 August 2019, she finished 2nd in the 45.9 km 20 Bridges Swim around Manhattan Island in New York City in 7 hours 7 minutes 19 seconds at the age of 33.
• On 21 August 2021, she completed a 67 km two-way crossing of the English Channel in 25 hours 7 minutes at the age of 35 to join the 24-Hour Club.
• On 11 August 2022, she completed a 32.3 km crossing of the Catalina Channel in 11 hours 7 minutes 26 seconds to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming. She attempted a double crossing of the Catalina Channel, but she abandoned the second leg due to 16-18 knot winds and 6-foot swells.
• She has swam across the the 33.5 km English Channel 4 times.
• She complete all 4 stage swims of the 2021 SCAR Swim in Arizona.

External links

• Susan McKay Reflects On Swimming SCAR
• The Ties That Bind Triple Crowners
• Roka Rocks
• Double the Triumph
• Racing Ricardo Is Rough
• The Tides Were In Our Favor
• Racing Ricardo Is Rough
• The Tides Were In Our Favor
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• Marathon Swimming
• Open Water Swimming
• Daily News of Open Water Swimming
• Jay Eckert Suits Up To Lead Fast Field Across Tampa Bay
• Fort Myers swimmer Heather Roka swims across English Channel in 12 hours
• Marathon Swimmers Federation bio