By Polly Lynn
Bethany Bosch, 29 of Wallingford, has completed the English Channel swim — joining only about 1,500 others (500 of whom were women) that have successfully made the journey solo. Bosch has been training for four years to complete this feat.
Bosch set out Sunday, Aug. 31 and after 17 hours and 34 minutes in the cold water, she reached the northern shores of France. While the Channel is 21-miles straight across Bosch swam much further as she contended with strong currents that pulled her off course during the journey, her crew members stated. The currents close to the shore were especially strong, keeping her from reaching her destination and challenging her, both mentally and physically, right up to the end.
In addition to completing this epic swim, one of Bosch’s main goals is to raise money to build an aquatic center in Rutland. She is hoping to do that with the support of Intrepid Athletics, a Rutland-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, supporting, and administrating events for local amateur athletes.
“Having found that confidence within myself as I work toward this amazing dream – I want to use this adventure to give back to swimming and to Rutland by raising funds to build an aquatic center. Such a facility could add so much to our community and way of life,” Bosch wrote on her blog. “That’s my hope. That’s my vision. To make a lasting difference for the city I love and the place I call home.”
