From Pringle Bay to France: Amber-Rose Berry's record-breaking English Channel swim
Eighteen-year-old Amber-Rose Berry has made history by becoming the youngest South African woman to swim the English Channel, completing the 33km crossing in an unofficial time of 10 hours and 27 minutes. This remarkable achievement coincides with South Africa's Women's Month and aims to raise funds for student-athletes.
Pringle Bay native Amber-Rose Berry made history as the youngest South African woman to swim the English Channel, completing the grueling 33km open-water swim from England to France on Sunday, August 23. Her unofficial time was 10 hours and 27 minutes, though confirmation is pending. Berry set off from Dover at 5:27am and reached the French coast at 3:54pm, enduring jellyfish stings, strong currents, cold water, and a ship's wake along the way.
Her mother, Karen, noted her daughter's determination during a particularly tough moment halfway through the swim. Berry, who trained for months under coach Clinton le Seuer, fueled herself with liquid nutrition every hour initially before switching to every 30 minutes. Her accomplishment adds to her already impressive open-water swimming career, including being the youngest person to complete Cape Town's 33km False Bay crossing at 16.
This swim marks 100 years since Gertrude Ederle's historic first female English Channel crossing in 1926 and coincides with South Africa's Women's Month. Berry's efforts also aimed to raise funds for student-athletes, with over $7,000 raised for the Ukukhula Institute in Makhanda, supporting disadvantaged high school athletes in the Eastern Cape.
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