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This special edition of the SwimOut podcast pays tribute to Captain Matthew Webb who, in 1875, made history as the first person to swim the English Channel. Our dramatisation brings his story to life: A village lad who ran away to sea, saw the world and was inspired to make the impossible happen.
The story recounts the many challenges he had to overcome - from shifting tides to jellyfish. It details what kept him going during his gruelling feat of valour, from beef tea to brandy and more importantly, his friends and family onboard the support vessel. His motto “ Nothing great is easy” is testament to his grit, endurance and bravado. Join us on this heroic swim to France, with Captain Webb, The Channel Conqueror.
Find out more: @swimoutpodcast or swimout.net
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"Captain Webb: The Channel Conqueror" is an episode of SwimOut. Runtime 39 min. Published December 4, 2025. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.
