Woman Becomes First to Swim Entire California Coast, Cites Sewage Near Border as Major Challenge

Catherine Breed, 33, has become the first person to swim the entire 900-mile length of the California coastline. She began her journey on July 1 at the California-Oregon border and concluded on Sunday at Imperial Beach, near the border with Mexico, marking a 111-day endeavor.

Breed described the polluted waters near the Tijuana River as the most challenging aspect of her swim, stating it was "some of the dirtiest water in the United States, if not the world." Despite being more than two miles offshore, she reported the water felt like "swimming through sewage." This experience led her to reflect on public perception of ocean threats, noting, "we are so scared about these animals that live in the ocean and have no interest in us. And how we are more fearful about that than we are about the damage and destruction we are causing to our own home that thereby directly affects us."

The historic swim, dubbed 'Swim California,' aimed to raise awareness for ocean preservation and inspire women and girls to pursue ambitious goals. Breed swam an average of 10 miles per day, dedicating three to six hours daily to the effort.

During her swim, Breed contended with water temperatures below 50°F, dangerous currents, strong winds, and waves up to seven feet high. She also encountered areas populated by sharks. She likened the daily effort to completing a 50K trail run or a half Iron Man every day for approximately 110 days.

A team of seven people accompanied Breed aboard a 52-foot vessel, providing support throughout her journey. Each night, the team would come ashore to rest before returning to their last point of departure the following day. The expedition, initially projected to conclude in November, finished ahead of schedule.

Breed, who previously worked at a biotechnology company called Intuitive Surgical, quit her job to undertake the swim. Her past accomplishments include being the first person to swim from the Golden Gate Bridge to Half Moon Bay, completing marathon swims of the English Channel, and circumnavigating Manhattan.

The California coast expedition incurred costs of approximately $500,000, funded by individual donors and corporate sponsors. Breed concluded the 900-mile journey on Sunday, followed by a ceremonial finish on Monday in Coronado, where she was greeted by a welcoming party of supporters, friends, and family.

Breed expressed her desire for the ceremonial finish to be a moment of celebration with those who had supported her throughout the expedition. "I want tomorrow to feel not like another normal day. I want it to feel celebratory," she stated on social media. "I want to get onto the boat and hug certain people that have been integral to this. I want to see my sister and my nephew on the beach... Tomorrow is a bit of a victory lap... I think the team and myself earned it."