Courtney Moates Paulk’s Marathon Swim Story

In this episode of Marathon Swim Stories, I chat with Courtney Moates Paulk. We talk about feeling like a poser at marathon swim events, no such thing as a DNF, enjoying the journey, and so much more!

In her own words: Courtney Paulk is an ultra-distance open water marathon swimmer from Richmond, Virginia. She is the first (and only) person to have completed the Triple Crown of Open Water swimming 3 times and also the first to have completed two of the Triple Crown swims as “doubles.” To say she loves the Triple Crown swims would be an understatement.

Courtney has swum around Manhattan 4 times, across the Catalina Channel 4 times and across the English Channel 3 times. In her quest to complete each of the Triple Crown swims as doubles, in 2017 Courtney completed the 57 mile 40 Bridges swim (by circumnavigating Manhattan twice) in 20 hours 15 minutes and 55 seconds. Ten weeks later, Courtney swam from the mainland of California to Catalina and back in 33 hours and 13 minutes.

In addition to her Triple Crown Swims, Courtney was the 7th person to swim across Cape Cod Bay. She also has completed several Boston Light and SCAR swims, participated in numerous Cork Distance Weeks, the Ederle swim, the Potomac River Swim for the Environment and 15 Great Chesapeake Bay swims.

Courtney has raised over $50,000 in connection with her swims for various charities.

Outside of the water, Courtney is the president of her law firm – Hirschler – an 85 lawyer firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Her practice focuses primarily on representing clients in the construction industry.