At 18, Maya Merhige completes 21.4-mile North Channel swim in 12 hrs, nears world record

Eighteen-year-old open-water swimmer Maya Merhige has moved one step closer to making history after successfully completing the 21.4-mile North Channel swim from Ireland to Scotland.Closing in on a Guinness World RecordAccording to KTVU, Merhige completed the challenging crossing on Wednesday in 12 hours, 19 minutes and 37 seconds, marking the fifth successful swim in her quest to complete the prestigious Oceans Seven challenge. If she completes the remaining two swims on schedule, she is expected to become the youngest person to complete the Oceans Seven, earning a Guinness World Record.The Oceans Seven is regarded as one of the toughest endurance challenges in open-water swimming and comprises seven iconic channel crossings around the world, including the English Channel, Catalina Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, North Channel, Kaiwi Channel, Cook Strait and Tsugaru Strait.Merhige began the challenge in 2021 by completing the Catalina Channel at just 14 years old.