Six Belarusian Women from Three Countries Prepare to Swim Across the English Channel

The idea, as the participants write on their account, emerged after meeting a Lithuanian team of swimmers who crossed the English Channel in 2025 (Editor's note: likely meant 2023 or 2024, given the current year). They connected through social media and later met at open-water swims in Lithuania.

The English Channel – the strait between France and Great Britain – is home to one of the most famous open-water marathons. The direct distance of the route is about 34 kilometers, but considering sea currents, swimmers often cover 40-60 km. The relay format means that participants take turns in the water, and the total duration of the swim can range from 10 to 16 hours.

One of the main challenges is the water temperature. While most open-water competitions take place at 21-24 degrees Celsius, in the English Channel at the end of June, the water temperature hovers around 14-16°C. In such water, breathing becomes difficult, hands and feet quickly get cold, and prolonged exposure can lead to hypothermia.

It is precisely the cold that is the main reason why many do not reach the finish line. Observers on a boat monitor the swimmers' condition: if the pace of movement drops and it becomes clear that the person is losing strength from the cold, they are pulled out of the water.

Therefore, preparation for the swim is primarily related to acclimatization to cold water. As the participants share on their Instagram, training takes place in a variety of conditions – from icy lakes in Lithuania to ocean swims.

Павялічыць

Darya Slizh at a competition. Photo from the team's social media

In addition, the team also swims a lot individually. In their shared chat, the participants set weekly goals for themselves and share their training results. There are also night swims – the start can happen at any time of day, so one must be ready to swim in the dark.

Another feature of open water is waves and wind. Currents can hit the face from any side, so swimmers learn to breathe both left and right. For many, this is like learning to write with their non-dominant hand – it requires time and coordination retraining.

The team lives in different countries: three participants in Lithuania, two in the USA, and one in Great Britain. To stay in touch, they regularly meet online and discuss both training and organizational matters.

From time to time, they manage to meet in person. For example, joint training sessions have already taken place in the Atlantic Ocean in Spain. Such meetings help not only to prepare physically but also to feel like a real team.

Павялічыць

Alena Hryhorieva. Photo from the BelSwimSisters team's social media

The swim starts from the UK side – these are the rules. Swimmers must touch the French shore, after which they return to the boat and head back to Dover port. The exact finish location is difficult to predict: strong currents often alter the trajectory, making the route resemble the letter S.

The members of the Belarusian team are Ullyana Zarubina, Darya Slizh, Maryna Shynkarenka, Mariya Kolesava-Hudzilina, Nastassia Litvinienka, Alena Hryhorieva.

They write on social media that each of them has her own story and motivation. The women come from various professions, but all are united by one goal – to swim across the English Channel together. Especially since inquiries to relevant associations showed that there has not yet been a purely Belarusian relay team in the English Channel.

Павялічыць

Ullyana Zarubina during preparation. Photo from the BelSwimSisters team's social media

The team maintains an Instagram page where they share information about their training and qualification swims, as well as how to support them.

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