About Courtney

Courtney Paulk is an Open Water Marathon Swimmer.  She writes about her adventures and journeys in open water swimming, including her completion of the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming in 2013.

The Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming consists of the swimming around the island of Manhattan (28.5 miles around Manhattan), swimming across the Catalina Channel (21 miles between Catalina Island and the mainland of California) and swimming the English Channel (21 miles from Dover, England to Cap Gris Nez, France).  On September 10, 2013, Courtney became the 85th person to complete the Triple Crown.  Courtney completed the first leg of her journey, the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, on June 18, 2011 (and again in June 2012).  Courtney completed the second leg of her journey, the English Channel, on August 10, 2012.  And on September 10, 2013 she completed the Catalina Channel swim.

On September 2, 2014, Courtney became the 7th person to swim across Cape Cod Bay from Plymouth to Provincetown.  In doing so, Courtney broke the course record by nearly 40 minutes completing the 20 mile swim in 9 hours 43 minutes (her record has subsequently been broken).

In September 2016, Courtney attempted a double Catalina Channel swim – which she elected to end at the turn due to extremely rough seas and a torn tendon in her right wrist. She made it from the mainland of California to Catalina in 16 hours 3 minutes and 30 seconds.

In October 2017, Courtney went back to attempt another two-way Catalina Channel swim – this time completing it in 33 hours 13 minutes. She became the 9th person to complete a two-way Catalina Channel swim. http://dailynews.openwaterswimming.com/2017/10/courtney-moates-paulk-describes-2-way.html

In July 2017, Courtney completed the inaugural 40 Bridges swim (57 miles – twice around the island of Manhattan) in 20 hours 15 minutes and 55 seconds. Courtney became the 6th person to swim around Manhattan twice. http://dailynews.openwaterswimming.com/2017/08/the-genesis-of-40-bridges-doing-57.html

During the summers of 2018, 2019 and 2020 Courtney completed 3 more one-way English Channel swims. Each time, she set out for a 2-way in her quest to become the first person to complete each of the Triple Crown swims as “doubles.” And, while she has not yet completed a 2-way English Channel swim – upon completion of her English Channel swim in 2019, she became the first person to complete each of the Triple Crown swims 3 times – or a Triple Triple. And, upon her completion of her English Channel swim in 2020, she became the first person to complete each of the Triple Crown swims 4 times.  https://openwaterswimming.com/2019/08/courtney-moates-paulk-one-of-a-kind-does-the-triple-triple/

Courtney Moate Paulk Does It Again And Again And Again And Again, 4 Times Over