History-making swim for father and daughter across English Channel
Kensington resident Emily Miers is believed to have created history by being part of the first father-and-daughter combination to ever achieve a successful solo channel crossing in the event’s 144-year history.
Southern Courier
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Since 1875 a total of 2369 solo swims have been completed across the English Channel.
However, last week, 24-year-old Kensington resident Emily Miers is believed to have created history by being part of the first father-and-daughter combination to ever achieve a successful solo channel crossing in the event’s 144-year history.
Miers swam from England to France in 10 hours and 51 minutes to join an elite group who have completed the 34km swim.
Miers, who is in her first year as a lawyer at Minter Ellison, is also an active member at Coogee Surf Life Saving Club, where she is a respected patrol captain and not surprisingly the open female club swimming champion.
She is also a very experienced long distance and open water swimmer.
Her father Scott Miers also swam the channel in 2014 almost five years ago to the day she swam it.
“When dad finished his swim in 2014, everyone on the boat said I should do it too,” Emily said.
“So I thought to myself OK I will. From that point I devoted myself to training, juggled all my other commitments and had a perfect preparation to do it.”
For the Miers family swimming the channel also became a mission in memory of their daughter, Emily’s sister Sarah, who tragically died of a brain tumour in 1997.
It became a platform to help the Children’s Cancer Institute of Australia (CCIA) — which they turned to in that dreadful period.
“Raising funds and awareness for the Children’s Cancer Institute in honour of our beautiful Sarah was the most powerful motivation for me. I couldn’t give up. I just couldn’t,” Emily said.
Emily and Scott Miers’ channel swims have together raised almost $50,000 for the CCIA to help research projects to improve survival rates and quality of life of children with brain cancer.
Emily’s epic 34km swim began in total darkness at 1.50am when she left England’s White Cliffs of Dover behind her with a target destination of Cap Gris Nez on the French coastline.
The first four hours in total darkness were the toughest conditions of the swim — both physically and mentally.
But the biggest challenge came 10 hours into the swim when Emily was forced to sprint for about 5km to beat expected strong currents near the French coastline.
“I never felt anxious or scared. I was confident and pushed as hard as I could when I had too. I’m so happy and proud,” she said.
“I will never do that again. It’s done! That’s one thing dad and I both agree on.”
If you would like to support Emily and Scott’s historic achievement by donating to the CCIA click here.
The Miers family shares a close bond with Michael Renford — son of the legendary Des Renford who swam the channel a staggering 19 times.
Michael has been mentoring many Australian swimmers in their channel campaigns and helped the Miers navigate their channel swims.