Tammy van Wisse - Swimming one and a half times around the planet

Most people fly, some board a ship, but Tammy van Wisse has done it the hard way by swimming 1.5 times round the world. At 32, Tammy has swum 60,000 kilometres – a testament to her amazing stamina and strength. 

Tammy is a master at conquering extreme challenges, including swimming some of the coldest, deepest and longest waterways on the planet including Loch Ness, Bass Strait, the English Channel and the Murray River, amassing an astonishing 65,000kms, which is equivalent to one and half times around the globe!

Victorian born Tammy started her formal swimming training at age 11. She progressed through her teens winning Victorian State Swimming and Victorian Royal Life Saving Titles. 

Lifesaving became an integral part of Tammy’s career, and she entered events such as the Lorne Pier to Pub swim, which she won in 1986, 1987 and 1989. 

Her first marathon swim was in 1986 from Beaumaris to Frankston, a distance of 20 kilometres. 

A decade later, Tammy entered the Guinness Book of Records as the first person to swim Bass Strait. 

Tammy went on to establish other record times and wins for swimming Loch Ness, New Zealand’s Cook Strait, the English Channel, the Olympic Games Centenary Marathon swim in Greece and the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim in New York. 

In 2001, Tammy completed her greatest challenge to date by swimming the entire length of the Murray River from the Alps to the ocean – a feat no one else has achieved, taking 106 days and covering a distance of 2438 kilometres. 

As a human water quality tester, Tammy has long been a campaigner for cleaner waterways. Through her amazing swims, Tammy raises awareness about environmental issues confronting Australia’s river systems, such as poor environmental flows, salinity and toxic algal bloom. 

Career Highlights

Swum more than 65,000kms, equivalent to one-and-half times around the planet

Fastest woman to swim the Cook Strait, New Zealand

First and only person in world to swim Bass Strait (97.4km) – Tasmania to Victoria, Australia.

Fastest person to swim Loch Ness, Scotland

Fastest person to swim 2438km length of the Murray River, Australia.

Champion for change highlighting the Murray River’s environmental plight from her own perspective as a “human water quality tester”.

Broke world record for New York to New Jersey, USA as tribute to Gertrude Ederle, first woman across the English Channel and her contribution to Women in Sport.

Has a day named after her in New Jersey, USA.

Winner of round Manhattan Island Marathon Race, USA (48kms)

Two solo swims of the English Channel with honour of fastest person across in 1993 and first brother & sister to cross together in 1994.

Lifesaver of the Year & winner of more than 150 Victorian State Lifesaving Titles.

Australian Geographic “Adventurer of the Year”

Ambassador for National Drowning Prevention Day & Play it Safe by the Water

Ambassador for The Male Hug – raising awareness of Men’s Mental Health

Socials:

LinkedIn: Tammy van Wisse

Insta: Tammy van Wisse @tammyvanwisse

Mentions:

Dawn Fraser

Royal Lifesaving Society

Ernie Sigley

Herald Sun

Duncan MacGillivray (Piper)

Enjoy the visual here on Youtube