Kenilworth Paralympian is first blind woman to swim Channel - 'nothing is impossible'
A Paralympic gold medallist became the first blind woman to swim across the English Channel - and says that "nothing is impossible."
Kenilworth's Melanie Barratt, 49, took on the challenge after falling in love with open-water swimming.
She swam the Channel in 12 hours and 20 minutes, faster than the expected 14 hours, and described it as "a dream come true."
Melanie became the first blind woman to swim the length of the Channel, from Shakespeare Beach in Dover to Cap Gris Nez Beach in France.
She said that being blind has left her feeling "isolated" and "waited for," but thanks to swimming, she has a "new-found confidence" and hopes her feat "inspires others".
Melanie, now a special needs assistant from Kenilworth, explained: "I never thought it would be possible to achieve something like this.
"My life has been filled with challenges because of my blindness - and it often led me to feel isolated and unsure of myself.
"Swimming has changed my life and I've overcome many barriers to achieve my dreams.
"I will always advocate for the inclusivity of those who are disabled and feel like they don't belong.
"And will always say that 'nothing is impossible'."
Melanie was born with "scarred eyes" after her mum contracted congenital toxoplasmosis - a common infection - during her pregnancy.
She grew up "virtually blind", only able to make out bright colours and shapes and later attended a specialist school for the visually impaired in Exhall, Coventry.
Melanie began swimming with the British Blind Sport charity.
"I loved the water," she said.
"The charity helped me by teaching me to swim straight and how not to bump my head into the pool ends.
"I struggled to fit in at school because of my blindness, so I often turned to the pool as an escape."
Mel slowly improved, and when a swimming partner was invited to the Paralympics, she was motivated to compete.
"That's when I really enjoyed being in the pool," she added.
Melanie competed in national events, aged 17, and over the next eight years, she won two gold medals, two silvers, and a bronze at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Paralympics.
After Sydney, Melanie retired from competitive swimming and wanted "something more."
She explored other sports like rowing, cycling, judo, and running but always felt drawn to water - specifically open water.
Melanie explained how she was often envious of people who could dive into the sea and feel the waves on their faces.
But she didn't know how to take the steps herself.
"Sadly, my guide dog doesn't swim," she said.
"But I became friends with an incredible open-water swimmer who took me under her wing.
"The shock of the cold water made me aware of every single cell of my body and it was freeing.
"My friend would describe what I couldn't see, and I could picture the swans and ducks swimming around me.
"I longed for the days I could dip."
Once hooked on open-water swimming, Melanie competed in several races, including a 10k lake swim, the Thames Marathon, and a relay race in Lake Geneva in July 2023.
She is believed to be the first blind person to swim across the Swiss water channel.
"I had to rely on my husband and friends to take me swimming as I couldn't train on my own," she said.
"It was frustrating, and when I swam alone, I was often scared as I had no one to guide me.
"That's when I came up with a solution of swimming alongside my husband in a kayak because I could see its colours.
"I also started using bone-conducting headphones that allowed him to communicate with me throughout my swims.
"It made open-water swimming more accessible."
Two years before her Geneva feat, Melanie signed up for the English Channel swim, describing it as "the Everest of swimming."
On August 28, 2024, she swam the Channel in 12 hours and 20 minutes.
During training, she struggled to find open-water venues and used a "whiskey barrel full of cold water in the garden" to help build her tolerance to the cold.
During the swim, Melanie wore bone-conducting headphones to help guide her.
"I really wanted to prove something for myself," she added.
"Halfway through the swim, I felt scared and sick - I didn't think I was going to make it.
"But I had the most amazing team and I was really determined.
"The whole experience was the most incredible."
After the swim, Melanie started a Facebook group called Blind Swim Buddies to help blind swimmers access open water - and in January 2025, she received a Guinness World Record for her Channel swim.
"Looking back on it now, it still feels like a dream - and I'm proud of what I've achieved," Melanie said.
"Life is incredibly difficult being blind, and it's very limiting - but sport and open-water swimming have given me a new-found confidence and made me proud of who I am.
"My husband and two boys always know I love to push myself and that I always need something to work towards.
"And I hope I've inspired others to do the same."
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