16 Hours and 38 Minutes Later: 15-Year-Old Oscar Black Becomes Youngest To Swim North Channel

On Wednesday, July 9, 15-year-old Oscar Black not only became the 161st person since 1947 to complete the 21-mile swim across the North Channel from Ireland to Scotland, but also the youngest to ever do it, according to the official North Channel swim database.

Black, who attends Lurgan College in Northern Ireland and swims year-round for Lurgan Amateur Swimming Club, had swum in the channel last year as part of a relay team but had never attempted a solo swim, let alone a 21-mile one.

The sprint freestyle specialist, who owns best times of 26.69 and 57.76 in the long course pool, finished the swim in 16 hours and 38 minutes. Despite being the youngest to ever finish it on his first attempt, his time still bettered 11 of the other 161 swimmers who have completed the swim.

According to the rules of the North Channel swim, swimsuits must be made from textile materials and not extend past the shoulder or below the knee. Only a single-layer swim cap is permitted and must be made from silicone or latex. The swimmer is permitted to grease the body before the swim. Once in the water, the swimmer is not allowed to have physical contact with their crew or the boat.

The biggest struggle may not have been the swim itself, but rather the plethora of jellyfish surrounding Black throughout. He reported to the BBC that he was stung about 20 times. One of the most common jellyfish in the channel is the Lion’s mane jellyfish, the largest known species of jellyfish in the world. They have up to 1,200 tentacles and deliver a sting that is very painful for humans.

The physical challenges compounded the mental ones. Black told RTÉ Morning Ireland: “It seemed like it wasn’t getting any closer and when you see that it makes your brain stress and worry that you’re not going to get it all done, all the different emotions rushing through your head.”

“I did not expect to get out of the water then for me to be told I was in the water for 16 hours,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting it at all.”

The 21.6-mile swim was first completed in 1947 by England’s Tom Blower, who finished in 15 hours and 26 minutes. Alison Streeter, also from England, was the first woman to swim the North Channel in 1988. The record for the fastest solo crossing of the North Channel was set by Irishman Jordan Leckey in August 2021: 9 hours, 9 minutes and 30 seconds.

The North Channel swim, which covers the same distance as the English Channel, is typically 3-5 degrees cooler, with July temperatures ranging from 10 to 14 degrees Celsius (50 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit). It is part of the Oceans Seven Challenge, alongside the Cook Strait, the Moloka’i Channel, the English Channel, the Catalina Channel, the Tsugaru Channel and the Strait of Gibraltar.

Black told RTÉ Morning Ireland that he plans to attempt the Irish Triple Crown in the future. It consists of three swims: the North Channel, Galway Bay, and Fastnet. Swimmers earn the “Triple Crown” once all three are completed.