99 years ago today, on August 6, 1926 (June 28, 1926), a woman swam the English Channel for the first time. Gertrude Edel, a brave swimmer from New York On August 6, 1926, Gertrude Edel today became the first woman to swim the English Channel, surpassing any man in the past 51 years. The brave New York girl swam the Channel in 14 hours and 31 minutes. The previous best record was 16 hours and 23 minutes set by Italian swimmer Sebaton Tion Tirabowski in 1923. At 7:09 a.m., barely greeting the few spectators who cheered her on, Edel stepped out into the sea from Cape Gerry-Inland, France, instead of jumping into the water. After five hours in the water, she was slowed by stronger winds. But the biggest hurdle was at the end - customs officials insisted on questioning the 19-year-old before she came ashore.