MERIDIAN, Idaho (CBS2) — Before dawn on Aug. 7, 2026, Christine “Chrissy” Turpin slipped into the cold waters off England and began a grueling swim that would carry her across one of the world’s most notorious stretches of open water.
Turpin, a Meridian resident, mother, and endurance athlete, completed a solo English Channel swim that day, finishing the roughly 30-mile crossing in 15 hours and 5 minutes. She is believed to be the first person from Idaho to accomplish the feat.
Solo-swimming the English Channel is widely regarded as one of the most demanding endurance challenges in the world. Fewer people have successfully crossed from England to France than have summited Mount Everest, due to the combination of cold water, strong tides and shifting currents that can add miles to the journey. Swimmers also must contend with waves, passing vessels and wildlife…