Channel champions

Ambitious colleague John Myatt has made history after becoming one-half of the first two-man team to swim to France and back in one go.

The quality data validation administrator, based in Quedgeley, swam for Gloucester from the age of seven and reignited his passion for the sport when he swam across the Solent, aged 40.

He went on to take on various other open water challenges and ended up bumping into a former swimming teammate, Mark Leighton. The pair soon discovered a shared ambition to swim the Channel.

Two years of intensive training later and in 2015, they completed the Channel crossing together as a relay in a time of 11 hours and 37 minutes. The elation of their success was soon replaced with a burning ambition to go further.

‘We knew we had more to give, and comments from people insinuating that we had only swam half a width each really put a stake into the heart of our competitive natures,’ said John.

The determined duo got in touch with Gloucester charity, Rugby for Heroes - who work with the rugby community to raise funds and awareness for military personnel making the transition to civilian life - which agreed to work with them in their mission to become the first two men to swim to France and back as an alternating relay.

John’s journey wasn’t easy, with a shoulder injury and high winds delaying the attempt.

But then, in July this year, John and Mark made the journey down to Dover and the pair completed their first leg to France in 10 hours and 41 minutes – the third fastest ever time for a two-person relay team.

Their journey back was slower as more testing conditions set in. ‘We battled on through the night and when we reached the middle of the Channel progress seemed to halt, as we swam against the flow and the wind,’ said John.

But as dawn approached the English coast became visible and the gruelling journey was complete in 22 hours and 49 minutes. ‘I was elated and hugged Mark,’ said John. ‘What a feat to tell our future grandchildren about.

The friends raised more than £10,000 for Rugby for Heroes.