German swimmer Christof Wandratsch, who currently holds the European record in crossings of the English channel, attempted once again to break the world speed record for fastest English channel crossing. Unfortunately, fickle weather conditions had plans of their own.

Two weeks ago, the enterprising swimmer made his way to the beaches of Dover in good spirits only to be greeted by bad weather. Unable to cross, but not deterred, Wandratsch began planning for his next attempt. Wandratsch was advised not to swim today, but he and his pacesetter Michael Marszalek decided that the conditions weren't dire enough to call off the challenge.

Encountering two-meter high waves and being thrown about two hours off course, Wandratsch and his pacesetter were forced to abandon the rest of the swim four hours into the attempt due to unsafe weather conditions. It remains to be seen exactly how long it will be before Wandratsch attempts the journey again, but for now, Chad Hundeby's 1994 world record of 7 hours, 17 minutes will live to see another day. Those interested can follow the exploits of Wandratsch at his website (www.wandratsch.de).

Though Hundeby holds the world speed record for crossing using the freestyle stroke, it is the record of a British schoolteacher that may be perhaps the most impressive of all. After having been thwarted just miles from the French shore in 2000 by a shoulder injury, Julie Bradshaw of Loughborough completed the 22-mile swim using the butterfly stroke exclusively in 2002. By the time she arrived on the French coast 14 hours, 18 minutes later, Bradshaw had destroyed the previous fly crossing record by more than nine hours.

The breaststroke crossing record has been held for over 30 years by Belgium's Pierre van Vooren, whose time of 15 hours, 9 minutes has stood since 1963. Brendan Hansen, are you listening?