Brief
Endurance swimmer Catherine Breed completes first 900‑mile California crossing
The 33‑year‑old Bay Area athlete finished the historic swim on Monday after navigating storms, sharks and marine life.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Catherine Breed, a 33‑year‑old endurance swimmer from the Bay Area, completed a 900‑mile swim along California’s coast on Monday, becoming the first person to traverse the state’s length by water.
What happened
The 111‑day journey began in July and ended with Breed emerging from the water at Coronado Beach after swimming from Oregon to the Mexican border, finishing three miles offshore to avoid the Tijuana River pollution. She spent most of the time offshore, staying one to five miles from shore to evade sharks and man‑made obstacles such as crab pots.
What the reports add
Breed’s team navigated tropical storms, hurricanes and a Kelvin wave, and at times swam northward to avoid strong currents. She reported that El Niño mixed the water in unprecedented ways. While sharks were sighted, her team kept them at a distance, and she said the fins were “not even a part of the swim.” She also described “very magical” encounters with dolphins and sea lions and praised a rest day aboard the 52‑foot sailboat Catalyst off the Big Sur coast.
What was said
Breed told The Times, “It just felt emotional… I felt so proud of the team, and definitely a mix of joy but also relief that it was over and we did it successfully.” When asked if she would recommend the feat, she replied, “Absolutely not. What I would recommend to other people is to get in the ocean… It doesn’t have to be swimming.”
How it came about
Raised in Pleasanton and a UC Berkeley graduate, Breed was a decorated collegiate swimmer before knee injuries ended her college career. She later led long open‑water swims in the Bay Area, breaking records and setting the California crossing as her next goal. The celebration on Coronado Beach featured guests cheering from the shore while she climbed onto the sand after the final stretch.
Key facts
- Catherine Breed completed a 900‑mile swim along California’s coast. (latimes.com)
- The swim lasted 111 days, beginning in July and ending on Monday. (latimes.com)
- Breed finished three miles offshore near the Mexico border to avoid Tijuana River pollution. (latimes.com)
- She navigated tropical storms, hurricanes, a Kelvin wave and El Niño‑affected waters. (latimes.com)
- Breed said she would not recommend the full swim to others, but encourages ocean activity. (latimes.com)
Sources
- [1] latimes.com — originally reported as “Calif. woman makes history by swimming state's 900-mile length. She did it so you don't have to”
