In the summer of 2014, Abby Bergman (Culver City, Calif./Vistamar) tracked Paige Christie '15 as she successfully crossed the Channel, knowing one day she would do the same. Three years later, Christie swam into shore with Bergman who became the seventh Smithie to complete the English Channel swim.
 
When Bergman started looking at colleges, she heard that the coach at Smith College was preparing a swimmer to cross the English Channel. When she met former head coach Kim Bierwert at an on campus tour, Bergman boldly stated that she wanted to be his next English Channel swimmer. That dream came to fruition on Tuesday, August 2 when Bergman accomplished the feat in 13 hours and 15 minutes.
 
"It hasn't sunk in yet that I did it," said Bergman. "It's crazy to accomplish something I've been dreaming of for so long that it will take a while for this one to sink in.
 
Bergman battled several jellyfish stings, strong current and choppy 64-degree waters.  Her crew included her mother Natalie Bergman, Christie, and Kim Bierwert who never took his eyes off her throughout the entire swim.
 
Bergman is the seventh Smithie to swim the channel under former head coach Kim Bierwert, as she follows the legacy of Christie '15, Margaret Broenniman '85 and Maura FitzPatrick Sklarz '85 (who completed a joint swim in 1984), Maureen Travers M.S. '91 (who completed a solo swim that same year), and Mackenzie Bradley '13 and Emma Reim '13 (who completed a joint swim in 2011).
 
The rising senior and neuroscience major will serve as co-captain of the Smith College swimming and diving team for the 2017-18 season. 

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