'Creme de la creme' of swimmers visit Jersey

International athletes described as the "creme de la creme" of long distance swimming have visited Jersey.

Swimmers from the USA, Mexico and Croatia were among those in the island on Saturday to be inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.

The awards ceremony takes place in a different location each year when athletes gather to receive their honours, attend a conference and swim.

Swim coach Sally Minty-Gravett MBE, who hosted the event, said the top class athletes wanted to return to the island for more swimming.

She said the swimmers had all achieved incredible feats of endurance.

"We've got Oceans Seven swimmers, we've got Ice Sevens swimmers, which are the people who have done ice miles in the seven continents, we've got people from the Farallon Islands here and from San Francisco," said Mrs Minty-Gravett.

"These are the crème de la crème and they have all said how lovely and fantastic it was and they will all be back to swim around Jersey."

Ned Denison, chairman of the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, said Jersey was ideal for the event.

"We look for locations where we can do a weekend, where we can swim, where people will want to come," he said.

"Jersey had that community which we knew we would not only have a crowd but a crowd that's interested."

Fifty swimmers attended the event and 36 of them took part in a swimming race from Green Island to Harve des Pas on Saturday morning.

American open water swimmer Grace van der Byl won the race and said: "Beautiful, it was utterly beautiful, everything I expected the swim to be, chilly but beautiful."

Van der Byl was also being inducted into the Hall of Fame at the awards evening.

I don't know if this is necessarily something I deserve but I am grateful for it," she said.

Jersey has three places in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame.

In 2005 Sally Minty-Gravett was inducted, Charlie Gravett in 2016 and the Jersey Long Distance Swimming Club was also inducted in 2015.

Scottish open water swimmer Colleen Blair MBE said swimming in Jersey was "special".

"I think there is such a history here and that I have done an around Jersey and a Jersey to France and they are amazing swims," she said.

"I think the conditions, the club, Sally and a lot of the history just makes it even more special."

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