Our Keynote Speaker for March 8, 2024

Sarah Thomas

Champion Swimmer & Inspiration to us all!

Sarah Thomas, 41, is an ultra-marathon swimmer who holds the current world record for the longest continuous, unassisted, non-wetsuit, swim done in current-neutral conditions. That record-breaking swim covered 104.6 miles over 67 hours and was completed in Lake Champlain (NY/VT) in August of 2017. Shortly after completing this swim, Sarah was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She was just 35 years old. While undergoing aggressive cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy, Sarah never gave up on her dream of doing a swim that most people thought was impossible. One year after completing her cancer treatments, Sarah did just that- becoming the first person in history to complete a four-way crossing of the English Channel in 54 hours and 10 minutes. Recently, Sarah became the first person in history to complete a two-way crossing of the North Channel, from Scotland to Ireland and back to Scotland in 21 hours and 46 minutes in freezing water, peppered with giant jellyfish.

Sarah lives in Conifer, Colorado, with her husband Ryan, their two beagles and their rescue mutt. She is a full-time veterinarian recruiter. She also does keynote presentations for special events, where she shares life lessons that have helped her complete marathon swims and beat cancer.

Other notable swims:

-Catalina Channel- 20 miles, 2010

-Manhattan Island Marathon Swim- 28.5 miles, 2011

-English Channel (single crossing)- 21 miles, 2012

-Double Lake Tahoe- 42 miles, 2013*

-Double Lake Memphremagog- 50 miles, 2013*

-Loch Ness- 22 miles, 2015**

-Lake Powell- 80 miles, 2016*

-Lake Champlain- 104.6 miles, 2017*

-English Channel Four Way- 84 miles, 2019*

-Kawai/Molokai Channel- 26 miles, 2021

-Monterey Bay- 25 miles, 2021

-Double North Channel- 43 miles, 2022*

Click HERE For a full list of swim history.

*First person to complete this swim
**Second American to complete this swim

Visit Sarah’s website: www.sarahthomasswims.com

Notable Awards:

• Inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, 2018
• Inducted into the Vermont Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, 2016
• Marathon Swimmers Federation Solo Swim of the Year, 2017, 2018
• World Open Water Swimming Association- Performance of the Year- 2016
• Inducted into the Colorado Sportswomen Hall of Fame- 2020
• Honored as the 2019 Colorado Sportswoman of the Year
• Inducted into the Colorado Swimming Hall of Fame- 2022
• World Open Water Swimming Association- Performance of the Year- 2022
• World Open Water Swimming Association- Woman of the Year- 2022