Brian Foster (17, Ireland, MSF bio here) completed the first two-way crossing of the North Channel by a man in 24 hours 50 minutes in 14°C water (10 hours 32 minutes on the first leg and 14 hours 17 minutes on his second leg) in September 2024. Only the renowned Sarah Thomas has achieved a similar two-way crossing of the North Channel in 2022 in 21 hours 48 minutes.

With a 11 hour 3 minute crossing of the Catalina Channel as a 15-year-old and a 10 hour 37 minute crossing of the English Channel as a 16-year-old, the protege of Sandycove Island Swimming Club has quickly built a solid foundation of ocean cred.

Yesterday, he continued to build his resume with history’s first Fastnet Rock three-way 57.6 km crossing in 15 hours 48 minutes.

Fastnet Rock or Fastnet Lighthouse (from Old Norse: Hvasstann-ey meaning “sharp-tooth isle” or Carraig Aonair in Irish meaning “solitary rock / lone rock”) is a small island in the Atlantic Ocean and the most southerly point of Ireland. 

Previously, Stephen Redmond (Ireland, MSF bio here) completed two two-way crossings: a 35.7 km swim in 2012 in 12 hours 31 minutes and a 39 km swim in 2020 in 15 hours 34 minutes. Jason Betley (Great Britain, MSF bio here) also did a 39 km two-way crossing in 2023 in 13 hours 31 minutes. Elaine Burrows Dillane (Ireland, MSF bio here) also completed a 39 km two-way crossing in 2024 in 13 hours 43 minutes.

His wisdom, maturity, and humility was evident in conversation with the chairperson of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Ned Denison in the video above.

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