How This Breast Cancer Survivor Made History on the English Channel

Sarah Thomas became the first person to swim the English Channel four times without stopping.

An American has become the toast of many coasts: Sarah Thomas raised a glass of champagne after becoming the first person to swim the English Channel four times nonstop Tuesday. 

The 37-year-old from Colorado, a breast cancer survivor, dove into the water off Dover, England, Sunday and went to France then back to England four times without stopping. She finished at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, having been in the water a total of over 54 hours. 

Because of the currents, she took a roundabout route, meaning she actually swam 130 miles instead of the anticipated 80 miles.

Following the historic nautical achievement, she treated herself to M&M’s despite a stomachache, saying she wanted something to chew on. 

"I'm really just pretty numb," she told BBC. "There was a lot of people on the beach to meet me and wish me well and it was really nice of them, but I feel just mostly stunned."

She added that she planned on going to sleep. 

“I’m pretty tired right now,” she said. 

Thomas, who is a breast cancer survivor, dedicated her swim to other survivors

She told BBC that “used the swimming as her means of coping with the treatment.” 

“It is pretty incredible,” she told Inside Edition. “It was a miserable 54 hours, the salt water exposure is a little rough on the body, so I am defiantly swollen on the face and on my body and on my tongue. My throat is very, very sore.”

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