Kevin Murphy




Kevin Murphy is a British open water swimmer whose well-known quips about his own marathon swimming is that he is 'going for a little dip'. He was a renowned reporter in Great Britain as well as a member of The Dover Beach Crew and a dual inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Contents
Honors
- Murphy has swum the greatest number of English Channel crossings for a male: 34.
- His England-to-France crossing in 1999 was two hours faster than his first successful crossing in 1968.
- In 1970 he became the first Briton to complete a two-way crossing of the English Channel, which he has done three times.
- He set the record of 11 hours 21 minutes for crossing the North Channel from Northern Ireland to Scotland.
- He is a dual inductee: an Honor Swimmer in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in the Class of 1971 and an Honor Swimmer in the International Swimming Hall of Fame in the Class of 2009.
- He was the recipient of the ISHOF Poseidon Award in 2023.
- He served as the Honorary Secretary of the Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation.
- He served as the President of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.
- He is a member of the Half Century Club.
- He is a member of the 24-hour club.
- He is a member of the ISHOF Open Water Nomination Screening Committee.
English Channel Crossings
- His 34 English Channel crossings include a double-crossing in 35 hours 10 minutes in 1970, his England-France-England swim in 1975 in 36 hours 3 minutes which was notable because he was ordered out of the water because of bad weather after swimming non-stop for 52 hours 30 minutes when he was halfway back on his third leg and his two-way France-England-France crossing in 1987 in 32 hours 42 minutes.
- His 34 English Channel crossings include:
- England-France in 1968 in 15 hours 55 minutes
- England-France in 1976 in 15 hours 0 minutes
- France-England in 1976 in 15 hours 32 minutes
- England-France in 1977 in 14 hours 5 minutes
- England-France in 1977 in 14 hours 14 minutes
- France-England in 1979 in 22 hours 42 minutes
- England-France in 1980 in 17 hours 28 minutes for which he was awarded the Channel Swimming Association’s Endurance Trophy after swimming for 32 hours 42 minute as he was within four miles of completing a two-way crossing
- England-France in 1982 in 15 hours 12 minutes
- England-France in 1982 in 21 hours 22 minutes
- England-France in 1983 in 15 hours 29 minutes
- France-England in 1983 in 15 hours 25 minutes
- France-England in 1984 in 14 hours 58 minutes
- France-England in 1990 in 13 hours 16 minutes in one of the earliest Channel swim ever on 29 May
- England-France in 1991 in 13 hours 58 minutes
- England-France in 1991 in 15 hours 26 minutes
- England-France in 1991 in 17 hours 6 minutes
- France-England in 1992 in 15 hours 5 minutes
- France-England in 1993 in 14 hours 37 minutes
- France-England in 1994 in 15 hours 0 minutes
- England-France in 1995 in 18 hours 27 minutes
- England-France in 1995 in 15 hours 38 minutes
- France-England in 1996 in 15 hours 30 minutes
- England-France in 1997 in 15 hours 45 minutes
- England-France in 1999 in 13 hours 53 minutes
- England-France in 2000 in 14 hours 29 minutes
- England-France in 2000 in 15 hours 10 minutes
- England-France in 2005 in 13 hours 53 minutes
- England-France in 2006 in 15 hours 14 minutes for his 34th crossing
- England-France in 1968 in 15 hours 55 minutes
English Channel Relays
- Murphy participated in the following English Channel relays:
- France-England Channel Relay record in 1965 as a member of Phoenicians SC team which set the then team record of 9 hours 58 minutes
- England-France Channel Relay in 1987 with the Marrow Environment Project charity team
- England-France Channel Relay in 1987 with the Channel Swimming Association Diamond Jubilee Team
- England-France Channel Relay in 1991 with the Daytrippers Team
- England-France Channel Relay in 1992 with the Barnet Copthall SC team
- England-France Channel Relay in 2006 with Hubert House men’s team
- France-England Channel Relay record in 1965 as a member of Phoenicians SC team which set the then team record of 9 hours 58 minutes
Marathon Swims
- His relays included the Loch Ness Relay in 2000 and in 2005, the Round Jersey Relay in 2003, the Loch Lomond 2-way Relay in 2002. Murphy’s other marathon swims include the:
- On 2 October 1976, he completed a 13-mile two-way crossing between Weymouth and Lulworth in 6 hours 50 minutes.
- 90 km (56-mile) Round the Isle of Wight in the U.K. in 26 hours 51 minutes
- 37 km (23-mile crossing of Loch Ness in Scotland in 1976 in 10 hours 30 minutes
- 30 km (18.6-mile) Lake Como race in Italy in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989 and 1990
- 19.3 km (12-mile) Sydney Harbour Challenge Race in Australia in 1977 in 3 hours 20 minutes
- 77.2 km (48-mile) Lake Balaton race in Hungary in 1973 in 43 hours 15 minutes
- 69 km (43 miles) from Richmond to Gravesend in England in the River Thames in 1980 in 17 hours 25 minutes
- 40.2 km (25 miles) from Majorca to Minorca in the Spanish Balearic Islands in 15 hours 10 minutes
- 36 km Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli in Italy in 1974 in 12 hours 15 minutes
- 37 km (23-mile) Nile Marathon Race in Egypt in 11 hours 9 minutes
- 9.6 km (6-mile) Across the Sea of Galilee Swim in Israel
- 27 km (17 miles) three times: Skegness to Hunstanton in England in 13 hours 54 minutes in 1973 (misjudged the tides), 7 hours 47 minutes in 1976 to set the record and again to break the record that year in in 7 hours 10 minutes
- 43.7 km (21-mile) two-way of Lake Windermere in England
- 38.6 km (24-mile) Scottish ASA Championship in Loch Lomond in Scotland (where none of the other swimmers were able to finish)
- 42 km (26-mile) Marathon du Saguenay in Canada in 1988 in 7 hours 4 minutes
- On 24 April 2000, he crossed the 14.4 km Strait of Gibraltar in 2000 from Cires Point, Tarifa, Spain to Punta Cires, Morocco in 5 hours 18 minutes at the age of 51
- 48.2 km (30 miles) across the Chicago Skyline Swim from Evanston, Illinois to Hammond, Indiana in 23 hours 31 minutes
- 24 km (15 miles) from Valentia to Couminole Beach in Dingle Bay in Ireland in 7 hours 45 minutes in 2007
- Won the 3 km Sognfjord Swim Festival Challenge Race in Norway 1 hour 32 minutes
- 27.5 km (17 miles) in the Aurlandsfjord, Norway in 10 hours 46 minutes
- 1.5 miles from Alcatraz Island to Aquatic Park, San Francisco
- 1 mile across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
- 40 km (25 miles) Santa Barbara Channel from the Santa Cruz Island to Santa Barbara, California in 17 hours 31 minutes
- 20.2 miles across the Catalina Channel from Santa Catalina Island to the Southern California mainland in 15 hours 23 minutes in 2003 at the age of 54 to join the Half Century Club
- 15 hours 4 minutes across ]]Loch Lomond]] in 1967 and 12 hours 53 minutes in 1979
- double-crossing of Lake Windermere in 1979
- 45 km (28 miles) across the Bristol Channel in 1972 from North Devon to Porthcawl in 15 hours 8 minutes
- 46 km (24 miles) across Loch Ness in 1976 in 10 hours 40 minutes
- 33.7 km (21 miles) across Lake Tahoe between California and Nevada, USA in 2003 in 13 hours 56 minutes
- 45 km (28.5-mile) Manhattan Island Marathon Swim in New York in 2001 in 9 hours 2 minutes
- 17.7 km (11 miles) across Lake Mergozzo in Italy in 1989
- across Table Bay, Cape Town, South Africa in 1973 in 3 hours 45 minutes
- double-crossing in Table Bay between Blouberg to Robben Island in 1973
- 22 km (13.6-mile) double-crossing of Table Bay in 1987 between Three Anchor Bay to Robben Island in 10 hours 38 minutes.
- 2 hour 7 minutes crossing across Table Bay in 1987 from Robben Island to Blouberg.
- 3-mile swim in Lake Bala in North Wales in 1963/
- 10.5-mile swim across Lake Windermere in 6 hours 29 minutes in 1974 and 6 hours 34 minutes in 1967
- 8-mile swim in Torbay (Torquay-Brixham-Torquay) in 3 hours 51 minutes in 1976 and 3 hours 57 minutes in 1979, 3 hours 37 minutes in 1971, 4 hours 41 minutes in 1972, 3 hours 40 minutes in 1976/
- 10 miles in the Weymouth-Lulworth Cove in 1976 in 4 hours 50 minutes.
- In 1971, he completed a 25.7 km crossing of the Bristol Channel of the UK from Glenthorne to Porthcawl in 15 hours 35 seconds.
- In September 1971, he completed a 90 km circumnavigation swim around the Isle of Wight in the UK in 26 hours 51 minutes.
- 7 miles from Walton to Clacton in 1972 and 1974
- 6 miles from Folkestone to Dover in 1972 in 1 hour 51 minutes
- Belfast Lough from Whitehead to Bangor in Northern Ireland in 1974
- from Gorey to Bouley Bay in Jersey in the Channel Islands in 1974 in 2 hours 52 minutes
- from Mumbles to Aberavon in South Wales in 1976 in 2 hours 55 minutes
- across Lake Windermere in 5 hours 55 minutes in 1979 and in 5 hours and 45 minutes in 2006
- two-way Solent between Ryde to Southsea in 3 hours 34 minutes
- 8-mile Solent Challenge 2000 from Yarmouth to Gurnard on the Isle of Wight in 2 hours 45 minutes.
- completed the North Channel three times in total, including the harder Ireland-to-Scotland route:
- On 1 September 1970, he completed a 35 km crossing of the North Channel from Northern Ireland to Scotland in 11 hours 21 minutes at the age of 21 to set a record that stood for 18 years with the water temperature between 8.8-13.3°C (48-56°F)
- On 29 August 1971, he completed a 35 km crossing of the North Channel from Northern Ireland to Scotland in 14 hours 27 minutes at the age of 22.
- On 7 September 1989, he completed a 35 km crossing of the North Channel from Scotland to Northern Ireland in 17 hours 17 minutes 48 seconds at the age of 40.
Videos
Santa Barbara Channel Half Century Club Members
- Jim McConica - 12.4 miles (19.9 km) across Anacapa Channel in 2008 (5:26 at age of 57) and 2012 (4:38 and 5:24 at age of 61)
- Emilio Casanueva - 12.4 miles (19.9 km) across Anacapa Channel in 2008 (7:45 at age of 68)
- Dave Van Mouwerik - 12.4 miles (19.9 km) across Anacapa Channel in 2010 (7:00 at age of 52)
- Lynn Kubasek - 12.4 miles (19.9 km) across Anacapa Channel in 2011 (7:08 at age of 53)
- Chris Palfrey - 6 miles (9.6 km) from Santa Rosa Island to Santa Cruz Island in 2008 (2:52 at age of 51)
- Kevin Murphy - 24.8 miles (29.9 km) across the Santa Cruz Channel in 2007 (17:31 at age of 58)
- Ashby Harper - 23.5 miles (37.8 km) across the Santa Cruz Channel in 1984 (16:24 at age of 66)
- Peter Urrea - 12.4 miles (19.9 km) across Anacapa Channel in 2007 (8:15 at age of 67)
- Chris Layton - 12.4 miles (19.9 km) across Anacapa Channel in 2011 (6:00 at age of 52)
- Michael Hird - 12.4 miles (19.9 km) across Anacapa Channel in 2012 (5:48 at age of 50)
- Tom Ball - 12.4 miles (19.9 km) across Anacapa Channel in 2012 (7:39 at age of 52)
Global Open Water Swimming Conference
Murphy spoke at the 2013 Global Open Water Swimming Conference, a conference hosted and organised by Oswald Schmidt, Paschal Horgan, Captain Tom McCarthy, Ciaran O'Connor, Finbarr Hedderman, and Ned Denison in Cork, Ireland. The other presenters include Professor Tom Doyle, Trevor Woods, Dr. Angel Yanagihara, Dr. Lunt & Dr. Adams, Fergal Somerville, Niek Kloots, Sally Minty-Gravett, and Wayne Soutter.
This Is Your Life with Des Renford
together with Des Renford and other legends of the English Channel community
Swim The Channel
External links
- Crewing For Channel Swimmers Who Are Deaf, Blind, or Have No Use of Their Legs
- Penny Lee Dean, EdD to Receive the 2024 Poseidon Award
- Who Will Be The First Octogenarian To Swim The English Channel?
- Increased Shark Encounters, Shark Attacks During Moonless Night Sky Channel Crossings
- The Best Open Water Swimmers from 1950 to 2020
- The Best Open Water Swimmers from 1950 to 2020
- The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 2010's
- The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 2000's
- The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 1990's
- The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 1980's
- The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 1970's
- The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 1960's
- The Best Open Water Swimmers of the 1950's
- Original Triple Crowners More Than Doubled In 2022
- Bristol Channel Swimming Association Is Taking Off
- Bristol Channel Swimming Association
- CCSF Has So Much to Give, Offer and Share
- David Whyte Talks About Crossing The English Channel On WOWSA Live
- SwimOut Kicks Off with Sarah Thomas and Freda Streeter
- SwimOut Podcast interview
- Serpentine Swimming Club Honored by the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
- Chloë McCardel Goes For “A Little Dip” And Makes History as “Queen of the English Channel” With 44th Crossing
- Try Try Again After DNF (Did Not Fail)
- A Rush To Get Around The Isle of Wight
- 10K Under 10°C, Ger Kennedy Joins Cold Water Swimming A-Listers
- Going For A Little Dip, Kevin Murphy
- Alone Amid The Risks Of The Open Water
- Original Triple Crown By Kamil Resa Alsaran Is 2020 World Open Water Swimming Performance Of The Year
- Gerald Forsberg Honored By The International Marathon Swimming Hall Of Fame
- Kamil Resa Alsaran Completes Very Rare Triple Crown Of Open Water Swimming
- Brian Keenan On His Father Ted Keenan On WOWSA Live
- David Whyte Talks About The English Channel On WOWSA Live
- Kevin Murphy Talks About His Two Careers On WOWSA Live
- Barry Watson Reminiscences About The Past On WOWSA Live
- Becca Mann Describes The Maui Nui On WOWSA Live
- Back In Time: In 1977 With The Channel Swimming Association
- The Impact Of COVID-19 On The Channels
- Kevin Murphy, Experiences From Dryland To The Water
- Are Water Temperatures Getting Warmer?
- Rules Of Two-Way, Three-Way Crossings
- Open Water Swimming Dual Inductees And Dual Honorees
- Swimmers' Achievements And Dreams In The Future
- Antonio Argüelles On This Week’s Open Water Friday
- Pádraig Mallon And Ned Denison On Open Water Wednesday
- John Goodbody On An Open Water Swimming Icon, Thomas Watch
- Watching Over Many, Impacting All
- The Perfect Open Water Man
- The Perfect Open Water Woman
- On Becoming A Marathon Centurion
- Bryan Finlay Honored By International Marathon Swimming Hall Of Fame
- Kevin Murphy
- Kevin Murphy on Open Water Wednesday
- Sally Minty-Gravett MBE On High
- Oldies But Goodies In The Open Water
- International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
- International Swimming Hall of Fame
- Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation
- NYC Swim bio
- Catalina Channel Swimming Federation
- Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming
- Open Water Swimming
- The Oldest Men and Women in the Sea
- Updated 24-Hour Club
- Oceans Seven List - September 2012
- Half Century Club Update In Santa Barbara
- Kevin Murphy Going For A Little Dip
- Trent Grimsey vs. Peter Stoychev Round 3
- Survival Training In Outer Limits
- Crustacean Update In Santa Barbara
- Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation
- Close Your Eyes - What Do You See In The Open Water?
- Swimmers En Route To The Oceans Seven
- We Are Swimming In The Era Of Greatness
- What Might Happen In The English Channel
- Open Water Swimming Humour
- Oldies But Goodies In The Open Water
- Swimming In Open Water All Day And All Night
- Using Shark Shields In The Open Water
- How Far Could A Human Swim?
- When Failures Ultimately Lead to Success
- Shaving Down In Open Water Swimming
- Greatest Open Water Swims In History
- Movers And Shakers In The Open Water
- Iron War On Terra Firma And In The Open Water
- Marathon Swimming Loses One Of Its Best
- History Of The North Channel
- How Lovely Was The Swim Around Wight
- 30 Open Water Swimmers Known By One Name
- WOWSA, IMSHOF Heads To Cork, Ireland
- To Bubble Or Not To Bubble - That Is The Question
- Sayings From The Open Water Swimming World
- Marathon Swimming Is A Global Phenomena
- The Value Of Safety And Preparedness In The Open Water
- Marine Marks And Memories Among Open Water Swimmers
- Publicizing Heroes And Heroines Of Open Water Swimming
- Marathon Swimming
- The Perfect Female Open Water Swimmer
- The Perfect Male Open Water Swimmer
- The Channel, It Takes A Half Century For Kathy Batts
- T Minus 10ºC - Has Fergal Somerville Set The Standard?
- 1 + 1 > 2 In The Open Water Swimming World
- Jim McConica Sets The Standard From Santa Cruz
- Crews Are Made of Special People
- 24-hour Club…Swimming All Day And Night
- Service to Marathon Swimming Award
- The Dover Beach Team
- Dover Beach Crew Honoured With Service Award
- Marathon Swimmers Forum
- 100 New Year's Resolutions For Open Water Swimmers
- The Admiral of The Channel
- Will Open Water Swimming Species Be Upgraded?
- What Makes Great Swimmers?
- Kevin Murphy Versus The North Channel In His Own Words
- Menorca Channel Announces Its New Association
- Hang Up The Goggles, Put On The Dancing Shoes
- The King Holds Court In The Open Water
- Top 25 Individuals In Openwaterpedia
- Bona Fide Barraesque
- The Way Things Were: Irish Champion Of Champions
- Commander Forsberg Starts Loch Lomond Crossings
- D-Day Anniversary Relay Commemorates The Courageous
- Triple Crowners Showcase Their Fountain Of Youth - Age of Triple Crowners
- Crème de la Crème Of The Open Water World
- The Triple Crown Of Lake Monster Swims
- What Are Swimmers Known As?
- A Quartet Of Heroes And Heroines
- Spellbound By Swimmers
- Whose Record Will Chloë McCardel Break?
- Finishing Strongly In The Second Half Of Life
- Catalina Channel Swimming Federation website
- Giving Back At The Highest Levels
- Happy Wife, Happy Open Water Life
- Absolutely Painful Open Water Swims Of The 21st Century
- First By Fast And Frozen
- Mind Over Matter Does Matter [40-year Anniversary of Kevin Murphy's first English Channel 4-way Attempt]
- Gentlemen And Giants Of The Channel
- Back To The Past In Open Water Swimming
- Rough Handling Involves Gentle Approach
- How Old Can They Go? Very Old
- World Open Water Swimming Association
- Marathon Swimming
- Daily News of Open Water Swimming
- I Got Stung
- World Marathon Swimming Association
- Jessi Harewicz Crosses The Strait Of Georgia
- The King's Swimmers' Swim Camps
- Be Motivated, Be Inspired, Swim The Dream
- The King's Swimmers Have Deep Roots In The Open Water
- Des Renford, Kevin Murphy, Legends Of The English Channel
- From Leisure Swimmer To 6 Hours In 4 Days
- The Legacy Of Loch Lomond
- Michael Dale On Australian Marathon Swimming Federation
- The Murphy's Sea Warriors In The Open Water
- Swimming For More Than 24 Hours
- Kathy Batts Culminates With Her Own Achievement
- Albert Coward Honored By The Hall Of Fame
- Everyday Hero Duels Mother Nature In Triple Crown
- Marathon Swimmers Federation bio
- Who's Who In English Channel's Over-and-Back
- Try Try Again, Sixth Is A Charm For Mercedes
- Dreaming About The Open Water
- Marathon Swimmers Federation bio
- Kevin Murphy On Bristol, Isle of Wight And North Channel
- The Open Water Swimming Community In 1971
- When Kevin Murphy Disappeared Back To Weymouth
- Kevin Murphy Lost At Sea...Again
- The Century Swim That Took 41 Years
- International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Heroes