THE SIDELINES : Canadian Swims Across Channel
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CALAIS, France — Canadian Vicki Keith became the first swimmer ever to cross the English Channel using the butterfly stroke, French officials said today.
Officials at the channel rescue center at Gris-Nez said the 28-year-old completed the 17-mile swim at 4:36 a.m. on the French coast near Calais. She had left Dover the previous evening.
The officials said the boat accompanying Keith radioed, “The swimmer has arrived without problems.” She immediately returned to England by boat.
Three previous efforts by other swimmers to cross the channel using the fast but exhausting butterfly stroke had failed short of the goal.
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