Opdycke Completes the Triple Crown of Marathon Swimming

The “Triple Crown of Marathon Swimming” consists of the 28.5-mile Manhattan Island Marathon, the 21-mile English Channel, and the 21-mile Catalina Channel. Approximately 25 people have completed the “Triple.”

On Saturday, Aug. 9, 2008, Rendy Lynn Opdycke swam the Catalina Channel, from Catalina to the California mainland, in 8 hours, 28 minutes. This was the third fastest directional time for a woman and the sixth fastest time overall out of 145 people who have swum the channel solo since 1927. 

With this swim, Rendy Lynn became only the second swimmer to accomplish the Triple Crown in less than a year. She completed all three swims in 34 days, the shortest period ever recorded. She did Manhattan on July 5, England on July 27 and Catalina on August 9.  Her total swimming time for completing the three is also the fastest ever, at 26 hours, 50 minutes.

She is a member of the La Jolla Cove Swim Club that promotes ocean swimming and supports its members in their aquatic adventures.  La Jolla Cove Swim Club members David Clark and Paula Selby were instrumental in making Rendy Lynn’s goal possible.