The first to swim the English Channel from shore to shore (without a life jacket) was the Merchant Navy captain Matthew Webb (UK, 1848-83) who swam an estimated 61 km (38 miles) to make the 33-km (21-mile) crossing from Dover, England to Calais Sands, France, in 21 hr 45 min from 12:56 p.m. to 10:41 a.m. on 24-25 August 1875.

Paul Boyton (USA) had swum from Cap Gris-Nez to the South Foreland in his patent life-saving suit in 23 hr 30 min on 28-29 May 1875. There is good evidence that Jean-Marie Saletti, a French soldier, escaped from a British prison hulk off Dover by swimming to Boulogne in July or August 1815.

The first crossing from France to England was made by Enrico Tiraboschi, a wealthy Italian living in Argentina, in 16 hr 33 min on 12 August 1923, to win the Daily Sketch prize of œ1000.

As of May 1997, there had been 6,406 attempts to swim the Channel by 4,412 people. Of these, 505 individuals (342 men and 163 women) from 42 countries have made 768 successful crossings; 733 solo, 22 double and 3 triple.