Ultra-endurance athlete Catherine Breed has completed an unprecedented 900-mile swim down the entire coast of California. The 33-year-old finished the journey in less than four months, arriving at San Diego’s Coronado beach on Monday afternoon.
Breed began her swim on 1 July at California's northern border, completing the 111-day challenge. She reportedly swam about 10 miles daily, supported by a shipboard team who are documenting the endeavour for the World Open Water Swimming Association.
The swimmer described navigating through challenging conditions, including polluted waters near the US-Mexico border and waves as high as 7ft. She also faced extreme weather during a Super El Niño season, with currents reportedly going against her for the entire route.
Breed, a former US national team long-distance swimmer, has previously completed other significant open water swims, including the English Channel in 2018 and the North Channel in 2019. She stated her motivations for the California coastal swim included testing personal endurance, celebrating the coast, highlighting environmental preservation, and encouraging women and girls to engage with the ocean.