May 2007
June 2006
Promoting Environmental Cause: Ohio River
Highlighting her concerns for the environment: Lynne was invited by the Sierra Club and Rivers Unlimited to advocate for maintaining high standards for water quality. Joined by many local athletes, her swim from Cincinnati, Ohio to Newport, Kentucky was successful – the community’s water standards were maintained.
December 2002
Swim to Antarctica
In one of her most noted accomplishments, Lynne was the first person to complete a 1.2 mile swim in Antarctica, from the ship Orlova to Neko Harbor in 25 minutes wearing only swimsuit, cap, and goggles.
October 1994
Swimming for Peace Gulf of Aqaba
Lynne swam through the Gulf of Aqaba from Egypt to Israel and from Israel to Jordan, tracing the progress of peace between the three countries.
December 1992
Breathtaking Swim Across Lake Titicaca
Swimming from Bolivia to Peru, Lynne became the first to swim across Lake Titicaca. She had support from the Bolivian Navy and a welcoming committee from Peru and the National Swim Team of Bolivia. Her swim enhanced relations between the two nations.
August 1990
Aquatic Ambassador
Lynne swam across the Spree River during the period of reunification of the German Republics. She was escorted by East German police to help her avoid underwater mines and razor wire.
January 1990
First to Swim Beagle Channel
Lynne swam across the Beagle Channel between Argentina and Chile to promote cooperation between the two countries. She became the first person in the world to complete this swim.
August 1988
First to Cross Lake Baikal
Lynne continued her collaboration with a joint US-Soviet team to become the first person to swim across Lake Baikal. In recognition of her accomplishment, the Soviets named a cape on Lake Baikal in her honor – Cape Lynne Cox.
August 1987
Lynne Swims Bering Strait
After years of seeking permission, preparation, and planning, Lynne achieves a diplomatic first swimming across the Bering Strait to open the US-Soviet Border for the first time in 48 years with a time of 2 hours and 6 minutes in 38-degree water.
Click to watch and hear Presidents Reagan and Gorbachev toast Lynne’s historic swim.
August 1985
Swims Around the World
Continuing her effort to garner support for the Bering Strait swim Lynne completed a series of challenging swims around the world including waters in the US, Iceland, the Strait of Gibraltar – becoming the first person to swim from Morocco to Spain, Strait of Messina, around Delos Island in Greece, the Bosphorus, Lake Kuming in China, the 5 lakes of Mount Fuji, Glacier Bay, and finishing at the Golden Gate.
June 1984
Swims Across America
Seeking support for her future Bering Strait swim, Lynne completed ten swims in the highest, coldest, and most difficult waterways in the United States including Lake Tahoe, Lake Winnipesaukee, Lake Madison, and the Golden Gate.
January 1983
Testing Her Limits: New Zealand Southern Alps
Lynne swam across the three Lakes of New Zealand’s Southern Alps setting records for swimming at high altitude in extreme cold temperatures.
July 1980
Japan Swim Promotes International Research
Lynne was invited to speak at Tokyo Medical College and to participate in a swim around Jogashima.
December 1977
Lynne Breaks Boundaries Cape of Good Hope
Lynne was the first person to swim the 10 miles around the Cape of Good Hope through shark and sea-snake infested waters, in 3 hours and 3 minutes.
July 1977
Pioneer of Cold Swims Aleutian Islands
Lynne became the first person to swim between three of the Aleutian Islands in preparation for her historic Bering Strait swim.
December 1976
Another First The Strait of Magellan
Achieving a new milestone, Lynne became the first person to swim across the Strait of Magellan. She swam in 42-degree F (5.5 degrees C) water, through a storm with a 9-knot cross current, in 1 hour 2 minutes.
August 1976
World Record Swimming the Skagerrak
Lynne swam the Skagerak between Norway to Sweden. Despite encountering a huge smack of jellyfish, she set a men’s and women’s record in a time of 6 hours and 16 minutes.
World Record Swimming the Oresund
Lynne continued her world-record pace by setting both men’s and women’s marks for swimming the Oresund between Denmark and Sweden with a time of 5 hours and 9 minutes.
February 1975
Swimming New Zealand’s Cook Strait
Lynne was the first woman to swim across Cook Strait between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. After being pushed back by currents for 5 hours, she completed a 20 mile crossing in 12 hours and 2 ½ minutes. This swim was heralded by New Zealand’s Prime Minister Rowling as having helped heal relations between his country and the United States.
September 1974
Another World Record: The Catalina Channel
At age 17 Lynne returned to the Catalina Channel and broke the men’s and women’s world records with a time of 8 hours and 48 minutes – almost 4 hours faster than her first Catalina swim.
April 1974
Lynne Swims Nile River
Lynne was invited to compete in an international swimming race in the Nile River by the Egyptian government. The water was extremely polluted and during her training in the river Lynne became very sick. She competed in the race anyway and she passed out and was pulled from the water.
August 1973
English Channel: Regaining the World Record
Shortly after her 1972 swim, Lynne’s record was broken by Davis Hart. Rising to the challenge, she returned to England and regained the men’s and women’s records for swimming from England to France, with a time of 9 hours and 36 minutes.
July 1972
English Channel: World Record
At age 15 Lynne swam across the English Channel and shattered the men’s and women’s world records swimming from England to France with a time of 9 hours and 57 minutes.
