Maya Merhige achieved the Open Water Swimming Triple Crown when she efficiently accomplished the English Channel swim on Saturday. (Photograph courtesy of Swim Throughout America)
At simply 16 years outdated, Maya Merhige is already one of the vital achieved open-water swimmers within the sport.
Over the weekend, she swam the English Channel – one of many hardest open-water swims on the earth – and accomplished the Open Water Triple Crown by swimming the English Channel, the Catalina Channel and the 20 Bridges Swim in Manhattan.
However by her accomplishments, Merhige is most proud that her abilities within the water may have an effect on actual change for these preventing most cancers.
Merhige has raised greater than $100,000 by the group Swim Throughout America, which helps fund most cancers analysis by internet hosting charity swim occasions such because the swim by the English Channel.
The trigger hits near him for Merhige, who had her personal well being scare final yr. She was hospitalized when docs discovered a tumor in her pancreas. Finally, they decided it was not cancerous, however she gained a newfound appreciation for what most cancers sufferers undergo.
When requested what it means to assist elevate cash for most cancers analysis, Merhige stated, “It’s a very powerful a part of the swim for me.”
“Having the ability to use one thing that I like to boost a lot cash has been unimaginable. I do know the docs that the cash I’m elevating goes to, and I do know that all the work that they’re doing is absolutely vital.”
Merhige has been swimming ever since she was 9, however took a liking to open-water swimming due to the completely different challenges the game brings. Very like operating marathons, open-water swimmers are tasked with swimming lengthy distances in tough terrain. It is without doubt one of the hardest swimming disciplines because of the stress placed on the physique whereas the swimmer’s stamina is examined.
At 14, Merhige grew to become the youngest girl to finish the Lake Tahoe Swimming Triple Crown, ending the 21.5-mile swim in 13 hours. Final yr, she grew to become the youngest swimmer to complete the Kaiwi Molokai Channel, a 26-mile swim that stretches between the Hawaiian Islands of Molokai and Oahu.
However reaching the Triple Crown of open-water swimming was by no means a objective of Merhige. It simply so occurred that she accomplished the opposite two main swims alongside the way in which.
In 2021, she completed the 20-mile Catalina Channel swim that stretches from Catalina Island to the California mainland in 10 hours and 48 minutes. Final yr, she accomplished the 28.5-mile 20 Bridges swim in New York Metropolis in 8 hours and 43 minutes.
Regardless of finishing the Catalina and 20 Bridges swims at such a younger age, swimming the English Channel isn’t any straightforward job.
The English Channel is thought for its many jellyfish and sharks that might deter swimmers. The swim additionally goes by the night time in robust currents, making it tough to anticipate what obstacles the water may convey.
“For me, it’s lots simpler to swim at nighttime as a result of you possibly can’t actually take into consideration what’s happening,” Merhige stated.
However Merhige’s expertise made all of the distinction on Saturday. She accomplished the swim in 11 hours and 39 minutes to seize the Triple Crown.
Merhige is the 334th swimmer and third-youngest to ever full the celebrated accomplishment.
“We’re past pleased with Maya and her dedication and grit to swim these swims,” stated Merhige’s mother Liz Tung in an announcement. “We by no means imagined Maya, who was simply 9 years outdated when she swam her first Swim Throughout America — San Francisco open water swim, would discover such a ardour for open water swimming and take her swimming to date. Incomes the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming at simply 16 years outdated is simply unimaginable! We’re thrilled for her!”
There was an opportunity Merhige wouldn’t have been on this place when docs discovered the tumor in her pancreas in Might 2023. For 10 days of therapy, she was unable to go away the hospital and needed to take a break from coaching.
However by that point she discovered a deeper understanding of what she has been swimming for her complete life.
“I believe that being in hospital over the previous yr has made me extra conscious of what the expertise is like,” Merhige stated. “My expertise was very completely different from the expertise {that a} most cancers affected person has. However simply being a child within the hospital, I perceive it much more now. Previously couple of years, I’ve had lots of people near me take care of most cancers, so I simply perceive it higher.”
Her newfound perspective has impacted her household as effectively. Merhige’s dad, Chris Merhige, stated he now has a deeper gratitude for the native docs in Berkeley who helped deal with his daughter.
“UCSF and the wonderful work they’re doing, they’ve such a presence for me,” he stated. “We see it day by day after we drive by Freeway 24. We have now many associates which have sadly been handled there. To assist Maya signify the realm and assist contribute to the wonderful work that UCSF is doing is a very significant expertise.”
A rising senior at Berkeley Excessive, Maya isn’t set on whether or not she needs to pursue a profession in swimming. However she plans to proceed to be concerned within the sport and hopefully be somebody youthful swimmers may look as much as.
“It’s been actually thrilling for me and enjoyable,” Merhige stated. “I believe that it’s additionally opened the doorways for lots of different youthful open-water swimmers to actually see that there’s lots that they will do. Quite a lot of open-water swimming isn’t accessible for the youthful swimmers, however simply having the ability to present them this stuff usually are not essentially only for adults and that if you wish to do it you possibly can. That has been actually thrilling for me.”
