Karen Mee Completes English Channel Swim
A fundraiser conquers the Channel in over 14 hours, while a star-studded short-course meet is set for Virginia.
Two distinct narratives in the aquatic world emerge this week. Karen Mee has successfully completed a solo crossing of the English Channel, braving cold water and marine life to raise funds for charity. Meanwhile, psych sheets have been released for a high-profile short-course meters meet in Charlottesville, Virginia, featuring a host of Olympic and world champions preparing for the upcoming World Championships.
Channel Crossing for Charity
Karen Mee from Snitterfield swam the 21-mile English Channel from Dover to France on October 4, finishing in 14 hours and 39 minutes. She undertook the challenge to raise almost £17,000 for Parkinson's and brain tumour charities, motivated by her father's condition with Parkinson's disease.
Mee began her swim in darkness at approximately 03:30 BST from Samphire Hoe, guided by a spotlight from her support boat. She adhered to Channel Swimming Association rules, wearing only a swimsuit, cap, and goggles without a wetsuit. During the crossing, she handled busy shipping lanes and encountered seals and jellyfish, whose stings she compared to nettles. Her support crew provided carbohydrate drinks and cake via a pole, ensuring she never touched the boat to keep the attempt valid. She described the timing as meaningful, stating she completed it while her father could still understand her achievement. "It hit home that if it had [got] any later, my dad might not have known I'd done it," Mee said.
Her journey to the start involved over two years of preparation, beginning with open water swimming during lockdown. A suggestion from a former rugby player neighbor encouraged her to apply for a highly sought-after slot. Mee attended a training camp in Bournemouth and practiced swimming in darkness before dawn. Reflecting on the experience, she expressed sheer happiness during the swim, feeling all her preparation had come together perfectly.
Elite Short-Course Meet Lineup
The ProAM short-course meters meet at the University of Virginia's Aquatic and Fitness Center on October 15-16, 2026, will feature a deep field of elite swimmers. Headliners include Olympic gold medalists and world record holders like Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, and Caeleb Dressel, using the competition as preparation for the SCM World Championships.
Douglass is entered in the 100 free, 200 breast, and 200 IM. Walsh will contest the 50 and 100 freestyle plus the 50 and 100 butterfly. Dressel, a major draw on the men's side, is scheduled for five events: the 50 free, 100 free, 50 fly, 100 fly, and 100 IM. Other notable women's entries include Katie Ledecky in the 200 and 1500 free, Regan Smith in the 100 and 200 backstroke, and Simone Manuel in a range of sprint events. European champion Sara Curtis, who broke the 50 back world record twice, is entered in the 50 and 100 free and the 50 back.
The men's field also features sprinter Jordan Crooks in the 50 and 100 free, 50 back, and 50 fly. The meet will not include top swimmers Leon Marchand and Hubert Kos, who train under Bob Bowman at the University of Texas. The lineup promises intense racing across a compact schedule, offering a key tune-up for the global stars in attendance.
