Michael Read facts for kids

Michael Peter Read, born on June 9, 1941, is a famous English long-distance swimmer. He is known for swimming across the English Channel many times. He has completed 33 crossings, which is the fourth highest number ever! The person with the most crossings today is Chloë McCardel, who has swum the Channel 44 times. Michael Read was also awarded the MBE for his amazing achievements in swimming.

Becoming a Champion Swimmer

Michael Read was born in Brighton, England. He started swimming a bit later than some, at 14 years old. In 1955, he joined the Brighton Swimming Club. By 1957, he became the youngest person on the club's committee.

Early Swimming Success

Michael quickly became a strong swimmer. He won championships for English Schools and British Universities. In 1959, he came second in the ASA National Championships. Because of his talent, he was chosen to represent Great Britain. He was supposed to swim in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. Sadly, an injury stopped him from competing there.

Conquering the English Channel

In 1969, Michael joined the Channel Swimming Association (CSA). This is the group that helps swimmers cross the English Channel. He made his first Channel crossing that same year. He later became a very important part of the CSA, serving as Vice Chairman and then Chairman.

He became known as the "King of the Channel" in 1979. This title goes to the person with the most English Channel crossings. Michael broke the record, increasing it from 17 to 31 crossings! He stopped swimming the Channel in 1984. He briefly lost his "King of the Channel" title in 2000. But he got it back in 2004 with his 33rd crossing. He is the only swimmer to have won this title three times.

Michael Read's Amazing Swimming Career

Michael Read has had a very long and successful swimming career. He has competed in over 120 "ultra marathon" swims. These are very long races, much longer than regular marathon swims. He also competed in many shorter marathon distance races.

Continuing to Compete

Even as he got older, Michael kept swimming! He has competed for over six decades. He still takes part in international competitions, even in races up to 30 kilometers long. When he was younger, he competed in over 225 events organized by the British Long Distance Swimming Association (BLDSA).

He won many BLDSA championships across the UK. This included the 1970 Windermere International and the Loch Ness Championship. He set over 70 records! He was also the BLDSA Double Windermere Champion for nine years in a row.

New Challenges and First Swims

In recent years, Michael has competed in World, European, and National Masters competitions. He has won the ASA National Masters 3 km championship more than 10 times. He was also runner-up four times.

He was the first person to complete some amazing swims:

• The first ever two-way swim of The Wash (from Skegness to Hunstanton and back).
• The first ever three-way swim of Windermere.
• The first ever four-way swim of Windermere.
• The first person to swim Loch Tay and Loch Rannoch.
• The first person to swim from Perth to Broughty Ferry.
• The first person to swim 65 km in the Ebro river in Spain.

He was also the second person to swim all the way around the Isle of Wight.

Awards and Recognition

Michael Read has received many honors for his contributions to swimming.

• In 1978, he was added to the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame. This is a special place for the best long-distance swimmers.
• He has been made an honorary citizen of Nikiti in Greece and Dervio in Italy.
• In 2009, he received the International Swimming Hall of Fame Davids/Wheeler Memorial Award. This award recognizes people who help organize open water swimming around the world.
• In 2012, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This is a special award from the King or Queen of the United Kingdom for services to the country.

Records Michael Read Held

• First person to complete a 3-way swim of Windermere (30.75 miles) on July 20, 1972.
• First person to complete a 4-way swim of Windermere (41 miles) on July 20, 1972.
• First person to swim Loch Tay (14 miles) in August 1973.
• First person to swim Loch Lomond (21.6 miles) twice.
• Most English Channel Swims in a Year by a man - 6 in 1979. (Alison Streeter holds the overall record with 7 in 1992).
• Latest Channel crossing on October 28, 1979.