A New Zealander has become the first woman to swim a 50km stretch of water between the Farallon Islands, off the California coast, and San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge.
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The San Francisco Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/1hqKaLX) Chambers planned her swim at a time when the seasonal shark population at the Farallones is typically away and only year-round ones would be present. “The weather is less predictable, and there are great white sharks”.
Chambers who reportedly finished the swim in 17 hours and 12 minutes was once advised by doctors that she might never walk again.
The Farallon Islands are a breeding ground for great white sharks who are attracted by the vast number of elephant seals there.
According to KPIX, it wasn’t the sharks that provided a challenge, but the conditions.
Miss Chamber has become the world’s top open-water swimmer in six years after she took up the sport to recover from a fall in 2007. However, if she touched either of the boats, the swim would be officially over.
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A former ballerina, Chambers took up swimming to rehabilitate from an accident in which she almost lost a leg. “I hope I can just inspire young women to dream big”.
