New World Record OW Swim

Simply Amazing-68 miles, 40+ hours, 4 shark encounters. What can you compare a performance like that to?

What can you compare a performance like that to? Maybe the double crossing of the Channel since that was the record before?

Look, I'm not a big fan of sharks but I take exception to the term "unassisted" if someone had to be there to fend off (and in this case kill) several sharks in order for her to finish the swim. I can justify the first kill as being a life saver, maybe even the 2nd. After that, having to kill these sharks so that you can swim for a record comes across as more than just a little bit self-centered... It may be a world record but seems like a pretty morally questionable way to attain such heights. Not a fan. I'll go further and saying killing any shark, especially one as beautiful as an oceanic whitetip, so that they can complete a swim is complete BS, absent an imminent threat to life. And, if an oceanic white tip wanted to attack here, there would be little left of her to continue a swim. But I don't know the details, other than to read they were threatening her. Isn't open water swimming a challenge of the natural elements? Temps, swell, chop, current, and yes, animals? If it wasn't safe due to temps or current, she would have been plucked from the water. If it wasn't safe due to sharks, she should have been plucked from the water. I've dived with thousands of sharks, seeing one, let alone three, killed simply for one person's vanity sickens me. Also Not A Fan

Look, I'm not a big fan of sharks but I take exception to the term "unassisted" if someone had to be there to fend off (and in this case kill) several sharks in order for her to finish the swim. I can justify the first kill as being a life saver, maybe even the 2nd. After that, having to kill these sharks so that you can swim for a record comes across as more than just a little bit self-centered... It may be a world record but seems like a pretty morally questionable way to attain such heights. Not a fan. :applaud: I'll go further and saying killing any shark, especially one as beautiful as an oceanic whitetip, so that they can complete a swim is complete BS, absent an imminent threat to life. And, if an oceanic white tip wanted to attack here, there would be little left of her to continue a swim. But I don't know the details, other than to read they were threatening her. Isn't open water swimming a challenge of the natural elements? Temps, swell, chop, current, and yes, animals? If it wasn't safe due to temps or current, she would have been plucked from the water. If it wasn't safe due to sharks, she should have been plucked from the water. I've dived with thousands of sharks, seeing one, let alone three, killed simply for one person's vanity sickens me. Also Not A Fan :applaud:

I think this is a subject that needs to be fully aired out & discussed in the OW & Marathon swimming community. I believe sharks should be considered as an objective risk to be weigh before a swim, just like weather, rough water conditions, jellies etc.. Unfortunately it seems that once a swim is successful, an historical precedent is set for all future swims.

I think this is a subject that needs to be fully aired out & discussed in the OW & Marathon swimming community. I believe sharks should be considered as an objective risk to be weigh before a swim, just like weather, rough water conditions, jellies etc.. Unfortunately it seems that once a swim is successful, an historical precedent is set for all future swims. 100% agree. Since Steve M. was part of the crew, I'd like to hear his perspective.

Look, I'm not a big fan of sharks but I take exception to the term "unassisted" if someone had to be there to fend off (and in this case kill) several sharks in order for her to finish the swim. I can justify the first kill as being a life saver, maybe even the 2nd. After that, having to kill these sharks so that you can swim for a record comes across as more than just a little bit self-centered... It may be a world record but seems like a pretty morally questionable way to attain such heights. Not a fan.

It says her face became puffy and swollen because of the long time in salty water. Haven't heard the same happening to other OW swimmers--or is there?

Does anyone know what kind of full body suit she was wearing? Definitely not a traditional Channel costume. I assume it was for the jellies.

I am waiting for Mr. Ebanks to come forward and tell us what happened. He appears to have disappeared on the issue and left it for Chris & Penny to respond to these allegations. I think it time for him to speak up and address the criticism since he is the one implicated in the controversy. If I remember what I read, Gina Ebanks-Petrie, is the Director of the Cayman Islands Department of Environment. I believe that agency would have jurisdiction over the matter. (However, I could be completely wrong on this issue). I don't know how common the name Ebanks is, but if there was baiting she might be be responsible for bringing up the matter for review.