Jessika Robson (17) Breaks North Channel Record

On Saturday 9th September 2023 at 6:14 am Jessika Robson (17) stepped into the Irish Sea. Armed with a powerful mind, dedicated preparation and wearing a swim skin, goggles and silicone swim cap (to comply with Irish Long Distance Swimming Association regulations) Jessika spent the next 11 hours and 46 minutes swimming 41 kilometres across the North Channel, from Donaghadee Co. Down to Portpatrick in Scotland, becoming the youngest person ever to do so.

We chatted with Jessika about her background as a swimmer, her preparations, and her World Record Breaking swim.

Jessika Robson Swimming into the Sunrise

I got stung by a lion’s mane jellyfish all over my body, from my ears to my legs

The first sting I got was within the first two hours of my swim and it was horrific. I felt the solid part of the jellyfish hit my face and thought, “This is gonna hurt,” so I lifted my head. The tentacles wrapped around my whole body, so I got stung all over, literally from my ear and chin, right down my arms and legs, some even got down my swimsuit. I’ve never been electrocuted but that’s what I imagined it feels like.

After I got stung I took a minute to process what just happened. More than anything I wanted to complete the swim, so nothing was going to stop me. I just got my head down and kept going. I was very scared of my surroundings after that. I got another bad sting later, just on my arm that time.

The stings were sore all the way through my swim, but the cold must have been numbing them a bit. When I finished and started to warm up, the pain really got me. That was not a nice night!

It can be quite daunting to no know what’s below you

I’d say that being so far out from land can be quite daunting. You can’t just get out if you want to and I don’t know what’s below me. I know that I’ll be okay though because in any big swim I’ve done I’ve had a safety boat with me (Infinity Channel Swimming). Having them there puts my mind at ease.

I’ve learnt to just keep going

By completing the swim I learnt that I can push through mental barriers. I’m mentally strong enough to keep going even when it gets difficult. I’ve learnt to just keep going, especially when my muscles are feeling tired, and I want to get out and stop the aches.

I stopped every 30 minutes to feed.

I stopped every 30 minutes to feed. During my feeds, I had carb powder mixed with warm water or energy gel mixed with warm water. I alternated between the two during my feeds. I also ate chocolate buttons, jam sandwiches cut up small and crepes with a little bit of chocolate in them, again cut up really small to make them easier to eat.

I use music to keep me going

I use music to keep me going. I had my playlist going the entire 11 hours that I swam, from a speaker on the boat. I like that because instead of thinking about how cold I am or how tired I am, I can listen to music and sing along to that and distract myself. I also have everybody around me telling me to keep going and that I’m doing really well.

That is when I realized that I was going to finish

The sunrise was beautiful, it was dark for the first hour of my swim, so seeing it get lighter was really reassuring. I couldn’t see anything for most of the swim because of the fog, so when we got out of that, and I saw Scotland I knew I was near. That moment for me made me really start to dig in and swim a little harder. When I first saw Scotland, I could see huge cliffs, and as we got closer I could start to see all these little colourful buildings. That is when I realized that I was going to finish my swim soon.

I only started open water during lockdown

I started pool swimming when I was about 6 and have loved swimming since then. I joined Lisburn City Swimming Club 8 years ago, and only started the open water during lockdown in 2020. I tend to have one speed, whether I’m doing a 400 a 1500 or a 5km!

When I was 13, I came first in the 1500 in my age group at the Irish Summer Nationals, I think that’s when I thought, “Oh! I might be good at this!” I then started to focus on the distance events more. I’m good at getting in my own head and settling into my swim, that’s super important for me, especially on the really long events.

Organisation is the key to my success

I’ve been swimming in the pool for years so I’ve always been really good with routine. I tend to get homework done during study periods at school or while I’m waiting at the pool before training. To be honest it’s all just about being organized. A lot of my friends are at school or at the pool and I try to get out with them on the weekend. My mums really good at making sure that I don’t just swim and is always happy to run me around to friends when I’ve got a spare few hours

I swam most days for up to 4 hours at a time.

The majority of my training is in the pool with Lisburn City Swim Club. I did about 15 hours of training a week, but during the summer when the pool season finished, I swam in the sea, mainly at Donaghadee, where I swam most days for up to 4 hours at a time.

The open-water community is incredible

I had the best boat crew from Infinity Channel Swimming. Jacqueline, Jerry, my mum Kelly, Chris (support swimmer) and Dorothy Johnston (Open Water coach) were all on the boat. Having their support really helped me get through the tough moments like the jellyfish stings, because they said “Keep going you’ve got this”.

Leading up to the swim, I met so many amazing people! The open-water community is incredible. Everyone is always ready to give advice and encouragement and I took a lot away from that.

Left to Right: Jordan Leckey (Fastest Solo North Channel Crossing Record Holder), Chris Judge (Support Swimmer), Jessika Robson, Dorothy Johnston (Open Water Coach), Kelly Robson (Jessika’s Mother)

I started crying when I stepped on the beach in Scotland

I really enjoyed it. Getting out of the fog and seeing Scotland and the finish line made me really happy. When I stepped onto the beach I started crying because I couldn’t believe I actually did it. I was so proud of myself.

Never forget that you’re doing it because you love it.

I’d say the main thing is to focus on your end goal and surround yourself with positive, motivational people. Don’t ever be afraid to ask for advice, take it all in and put it into practice. Stay focused and just keep working hard. Always remember, there’ll be tough times but never forget that you’re doing it because you love it. Never lose the fun of it.

I genuinely just love it so will see where it takes me next.

The next big thing on my list is to get the Irish Open Water Swimming Association Triple Crown, consisting of The North Channel (Ireland to Scotland, or vice versa. Straight-line distance of 35km) the Galway Bay Swim (Aughinish in Co.Clare to the Blackrock Diving Tower in Salthill, Co.Galway, in either direction. Straight line distance of 10.5km) and Fastnet Lighthouse Swim (Fastnet Rock to Baltimore Pier in Co.Cork, in either direction. Straight-line distance 20.5km).

Honestly, after that, I’m just going with the flow, I feel like I’ve got many many years in open water. I genuinely just love it so will see where it takes me next.