Yellow Springs woman preparing to swim English Channel
Amy Wamsley is preparing to swim across the English Channel, and she's doing it right before her 50th birthday.
'When I was 12 years old, I decided I was going to swim it before I turned 50,' says Amy. 'It's important to me to live this goal.'
Amy has been in England since about mid-May to practice in the channel and get acclimated to the water.
'I feel very connected to water. So, I like to swim because I feel connected to water,' states Amy. 'I feel very calm there. I like being in my own headspace. So it's meditative, and I like the challenge.'
Her window to swim is based on the tide. It opens May 30th and runs until June 10th.
'You have what's called a pilot, which is your boat captain, and they watch the current and then they call you. You get about 10 to 12 hours' notice in that window to get in the water. So, you have to be prepared at all times in case they call,' describes Amy.
For more than a year, she's been training in pools and other bodies of water.
'I've swam at Central State. I've swam here at the Springfield Y, different locations. But ultimately, I like to be outside,' admits Amy. 'I swim at Caesar's Creek, Cohen Lake, Buck Creek, Michigan, Lake Michigan, near Chicago. I do that a lot, actually. This past summer, Lake Erie. And then I go out to California. So, I swim in the San Francisco Bay and La Hoya Cove,' says Amy. 'I do swim in the San Francisco Bay because it's the closest water to the English Channel based off of how the currents change. So I've been swimming there a lot.'
Last year, Amy hired a coach to help her turn her childhood dream into a reality.
'It's not easy. What I'm doing is not easy. It is. It is hard. And so, it's nice to challenge myself and see how far I can push myself and where I can go. And almost every time I'm out in San Francisco, I go farther, I swim stronger. I can just tell that I am stronger than I ever thought I was,' says Amy.
She's previously taken on the waters of Alcatraz, areas around Catalina, and the San Francisco Bay. Swimming for hours every week, she expects this roughly 20.5-mile swim to take her around 15 to 20 hours.
'I'm already further along than I ever thought I'd be. I'm already going to put my feet in the English Channel. So, if I'm already going to put my feet in the English Channel, I've already won. I've already gotten further than most people ever get. And so, getting to France, it's going to be so hard. But I know I can do it. I have full faith that I can get there,' says Amy. 'In the end, if you want it, you can do it.'
Amy says there are risks and obstacles involved like motion sickness, hypothermia, and stinging jellyfish. She has an entire crew with her to help keep her safe and monitor her health while she's in the water.
Following her swim, she's already making plans for her next challenge.
'I think once I conquer the English Channel, I will be looking at Catalina,' states Amy.
To track her journey, click here.
Amy also started a nonprofit called Amy's Swim Venture. It focuses on water conservation, as well as women empowerment concerning body image and aging. To learn more, click here.
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