Yorkshire adventurer completes latest epic swim - in honour of pioneer
Jasmine Harrison says her latest adventure was a real honour. She conquered the channel with a swim which paid homage to a forgotten queen of the waves.
The Thirsk woman, a world record holder, solo sailor, solo rower and swimmer completed a team English Channel Relay in honour of Gertrude Ederle who was the first female solo swimmer of the Channel in 1926.
The international team of Jasmine (UK), Oceans Seven swimmer Nathalie Pohl (Germany), Marianna Dos Santos (Portugal) and Mariam Bin laden (Saudi Arabia) completed the swim in 11 hours and 28 minutes swimming from Samphire Hoe, Dover, to Cap Gris-Nez, France.
Jasmine, 27, said: “I really enjoyed that swim, the team camaraderie was brilliant.
"It was a huge honour to swim with an international team on the anniversary of Gertrude’s swim and sends such a positive messages to women and girls that anything is possible.
“I swam better than I expected given that I only finished my solo Mini Globe Race a few months ago and am still building up my fitness.
"Training in cold temperatures was a challenge given the recent heatwave and sewage pollution in the North Sea so I’m really pleased the channel was relatively warm.
"It’s also great opportunity to remind everyone to take care around open water this summer.”
They were awarded medals by the Channel Swimming Association. The team had been waiting patiently in Dover over the last week for a suitable weather window, even so the sea conditions were choppy.
The sea and air temperature were both 19C until the sun went down and the air temperature dropped.
Jasmine’s nemesis of jellyfish were abundant and the whole team suffered from stings. Crossing busy shipping channels was reminiscent of Jasmine’s solo sailing around the world.
Jasmine, sponsored by Econ Engineering and The Maple Café at Oak Lakes, Sessay, is no stranger to adventures. She was the youngest female to solo row the Atlantic Ocean in 2021, aged 21.
She swam from Lands End to John O’Groats in 2022, the first female and only third person to achieve it and holds the Guinness World Record.
She completed a 15 month long solo sail around the world in March 2026 in a 5.8m long boat, the first British female to complete a circumnavigation in the smallest boat.
She is a Forbes 30-under-30 lister (sports, Europe 2021) and holds the Freedom of both Thirsk and Sowerby, North Yorkshire.
She was awarded the Ocean Cruising Club Jester Trophy in 2025, an award previously won by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.
She has previously raised over £30,000 for environmental and humanitarian charities.
She works as swimming teacher and lifeguard.