Swimming the Channel with the Varsity Relay Team

Magdalene PhD student and current MCR President, Siobhán Johnson, is set to swim the English Channel this July as part of the biannual Cambridge vs Oxford Varsity Channel Relay.

A third-year researcher in Antarctic sea ice at the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry with the British Antarctic Survey, Siobhán captains the Cambridge University Open Water Team.

The relay, held every other year since 1988, sees six swimmers from each university take on one of open water swimming’s most demanding challenges. The crossing typically takes between 8 and 10 hours, with team members swimming in rotation for one hour at a time until they reach the French coast. Swimmers must complete the challenge without wetsuits, facing cold water temperatures of around 15°C, limited visibility, and the occasional jellyfish.

In addition to the physical challenge, the Cambridge team is fundraising to support the Ocean Conservation Trust, a charity dedicated to protecting marine habitats, as well as covering the cost of the crossing. You can support their efforts via their JustGiving page.

For updates and progress on their swim, you can follow their journey on Instagram @cam_openwater.