Fleur Sohtz, a 47-year-old Chief Marketing Officer for a software-analytics firm and long-distance swimmer from the Upper East Side, is set to swim the English Channel in what could be a historic feat for a New Yorker. Sohtz is attempting to become the first woman from New York City to complete the Triple Crown of open water swimming, an accolade that encompasses swimming the English Channel, the Catalina Channel, and around Manhattan Island. As reported by The New York Post, Sohtz is scheduled to embark on her arduous journey across the English Channel on Friday.
Unlike the warmer waters of some of her previous swims, the English Channel presents a unique challenge, with water temperatures hovering around 69 degrees Fahrenheit. During the crossing that may span up to 26 miles due to strong currents, Sohtz is not allowed to touch her guide boat or to even wear a wetsuit to ward off the cold. "Every 30 minutes, they are throwing off the boat to me what's called the feed," Sohtz said, describing her regimen of eating every half hour to keep up her strength and energy. This tactic will help her to quickly recharge before continuing her swim. According to ABC7 New York, her aquatic soiree includes electrolytes, gels, and occasionally cakes or cookies to aid endurance.
Born and raised in Manhattan Beach, Sohtz has been connected to water for most of her life, having swum competitively in high school and later at the Division I level in college. Her swimming journey includes a record of circling Manhattan in eight and a half hours and crossing the Catalina Channel in the Pacific. Reflecting on her love for the sport and its impact, Sohtz told ABC7 New York, "I love the freedom of it. I think when you dive into water, you escape everything. You become very much just you and yourself and the movement of the water. It's a really freeing place to be."
Beyond personal achievement, Sohtz is also swimming for a cause. She hopes to raise $50,000 for Asphalt Green, the sports facility where she trains. The fundraiser supports AGUA scholarships and inclusive swim programs for neurodivergent kids. With more than $23,000 already raised, Sohtz aims to double that figure, underlining her belief in the transformative power of swimming. "I love this sport. It's given me everything," Sohtz explained, as per ABC7 New York. She added, "If every kid in New York could have that, or every adult in New York could have that, how many doors would it open?"
Only 366 people worldwide have completed the Triple Crown of swimming, and fewer than half are women. If successful, Sohtz would join this select group. Her birthday also falls on the same day that Gertrude Caroline Ederle, a fellow New Yorker, first swam across the English Channel. As Sohtz prepares for her attempt, the swim will be closely followed by both New Yorkers and the wider swimming community.
