In first, Israeli woman completes grueling English Channel swim

An Israeli swimmer crossed the English Channel this week, becoming Israel’s first woman to ever complete the endurance feat.

Starting in the British town of Dover on Tuesday, Avishag Turk swam over 13 hours before reaching the French city of Calais.

“This is the top of the top,” Turk told the Haaretz daily. “The English Channel is the Everest of the open waters.”

Prior to Turk, the only Israeli to swim the entirety of the English Channel was Eitan Friedman, a physician who completed the achievement in 1993.

While the distance between Dover and Calais is 34 kilometers (21 miles), Turk swam some 45 kilometers (28 miles) as a result of the strong currents, according Haaretz.

גאווה ישראלית: אבישג טורק עושה היסטוריה>> https://t.co/MWEAkmxthm pic.twitter.com/rCzLT6jhsb

— אתר 13 (@13siteisrael) August 3, 2017

During her journey across the channel, Turk had to contend with jellyfish and cold waters, but also enjoyed the company of dolphins for part of the trek.

Turk said that despite the tough conditions, she never considered giving up.

“I never thought of quitting, I am not a person who ever thinks about quitting,” she said.

In addition to her latest swimming accomplishment, Turk has also swum the 16 kilometers (10 miles) from one end of the Dead Sea to the other, and 42 kilometers (26 miles) in the Mediterranean Sea over a period of 16 hours, according to Haaretz.