Andy Truscott’s Marathon Swim Story

In today’s episode of Marathon Swim Stories, I had a chat with Jersey Islander, Andy Truscott. We met on Clubhouse – have you heard of it? I think it’s classed as a social listening platform, or something like that. I can see the appeal, but haven’t figured out how to fit it into my schedule, especially during these busy summer months.

I’m in awe of the spontaneity that drove Andy on his first swim around the island of Jersey in 2001. And with 6 circumnavigations under his belt, he has certainly gotten to know that Island from the water! In our conversation, we agreed that you don’t want to over do it in your training, you’ve got to leave something for the day.

I hope you enjoy Andy’s story!

In his own words:

I’m Andy Truscott, an open water marathon swimmer from Jersey, Channel Islands. I started my open water swimming journey back when I was a young 14-year-old lad. Standing at the edge of St Catherine’s slip, so nervous and timid about swimming in the sea, I dived in and raced the JASA Long Distance Championships. Some 2 hours later, stroke for stroke alongside local ladies’ legend Ali Wood (Horsfall at the time), both touching the same time to take the win for our categories, was the moment I saw the start of my love for open water swimming.

I am held amongst the leading open water marathon swimmers from Jersey, and have been listed as one of the ‘World’s 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Men’ by WOWSA for 2018 & 2019. I was a shortlisted finalist for both Performance Of The Year (2017) for my Jersey to France Double Swim for the British Long Distance Swimming Association Annual Awards, and The Marathon Swimmers’ Federation Annual Award for 2018 Solo Swim Of The Year for my pioneering Double Circumnavigation Of Jersey (2018); and was nominated for the same award for my second Double Round Island Swim in 2019.

Having joined the Jersey Long Distance Swimming Club 25 years ago in the nineties, I fast developed the mindset that to be the best you must beat the best. My ever longer and more challenging swims have seen me go on to inspire countless people both locally and worldwide. I want to inspire others and will willingly give my time, knowledge, and experience to help and support fellow swimmers, both recreational and endurance, in their own individual training and pursuits.

Amongst my achievements during my open water marathon swimming career spanning 25 years, are three unprecedented marathon swims:

• Minquiers to Jersey 2016,
• Jersey to France Double 2017, and
• Double Round Jersey 2018.

As well as other solo and relay swims, I now also hold a Guinness World Record for Fastest Double Circumnavigation of The Island of Jersey in 2018, this being the fifth longest tidally assisted swim of all time per Marathon Swimming Federation (as of May 2021).

Sea Swimming | Swim Smart (swimsmartjersey.co.uk)