Cape Town teen aims to become youngest South African to swim the English Channel

An 18-year-old from Cape Town is preparing to take on one of open-water swimming’s greatest challenges in a bid to make South African history.

Amber-Rose Berry will attempt to become the youngest South African ever to successfully swim the English Channel later this month, with her crossing scheduled to take place between 21 and 27 August, subject to weather, tides and sea conditions.

If successful, the teenager will not only become the youngest South African woman to complete the iconic crossing but the youngest South African overall, according to the Channel Swimming Association.

open-water swimming

For Cape Town’s open-water swimming community, Berry is already a familiar name. She previously became the youngest woman to complete the demanding solo crossing of False Bay, swimming approximately 34 km from Miller’s Point near Simon’s Town to Rooiels under the auspices of the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association.

Now she is preparing for an even greater test of endurance.

Starting from Dover in England, Berry will aim for the French coastline. However, powerful tidal currents mean swimmers rarely finish exactly where they intend. While Cap Gris-Nez is the traditional target, many successful crossings end further along the coast near Calais.

The English Channel is widely regarded as one of the world’s premier endurance swimming challenges because of its cold water, unpredictable weather, strong currents and heavy shipping traffic.

Berry’s attempt comes during South Africa’s National Women’s Month, adding extra significance to what could become a landmark moment for South African sport.

Her campaign carries the motivational message ‘Believe in what you can achieve,’ encouraging young people, particularly aspiring athletes and learners from disadvantaged backgrounds, to pursue ambitious goals despite obstacles. Beyond chasing a record, the swim also has a charitable purpose.

Funds raised through the campaign will reportedly support the Ukukhula Institute, which provides bursaries for disadvantaged student-athletes from Eastern Cape high schools to study at Rhodes University. The institute is also preparing to launch a high-performance sports academy in Makhanda in 2027.

Berry’s former primary school, Fish Hoek Primary, has been celebrating their former student’s remarkable achievement before she has even entered the water.

In a social media post, the school shared its excitement, saying: ‘We are incredibly proud of Old Girl Amber-Rose Berry, who at just 18 years old, will attempt to become the youngest South African to swim the English Channel.’

The post has been met with messages of encouragement, with many supporters wishing the young swimmer luck ahead of what promises to be the biggest challenge of her career.

Berry’s attempt follows another notable South African English Channel achievement by veteran swimmer Otto Thaning, who became the oldest man to complete the crossing at the age of 73 in 2014. Should Berry complete the swim, she will add another chapter to South Africa’s proud history of endurance swimming while inspiring a new generation of young athletes to dream big.

With months of preparation behind her, all eyes will now be on the English Channel later this month as the Cape Town teenager prepares to take on one of the sport’s most demanding challenges.

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Featured Image: Donovan Neale-May / Facebook