▁fre est yle ▁events . ▁ ▁She ▁represented ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁World ▁Aqu at ics ▁Championships ▁in ▁Per th , ▁Western ▁Australia , ▁winning ▁the ▁gold ▁medal ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 5 - kil ometer ▁open ▁water ▁event . ▁ ▁To ▁celebr ate ▁her ▁completion ▁of ▁her ▁master ' s ▁degree ▁in ▁k ines i ology , ▁Smith ▁sw am ▁the ▁English ▁Channel ▁on ▁August ▁ 5 , ▁ 1 9 9 9 . ▁ ▁After ▁sw imming ▁two ▁third s ▁of ▁the ▁distance ▁in ▁an ▁estimated ▁record ▁time , ▁she ▁encountered ▁a ▁force ▁five ▁g ale ▁of ▁ 1 9 ▁to ▁ 2 4 ▁miles ▁per ▁hour ▁and ▁white - c apped ▁waves . ▁ ▁She ▁finished ▁her ▁channel - cross ing ▁in ▁eight ▁hours , ▁ 1 5 ▁minutes ; ▁the ▁then ▁current ▁record ▁time ▁was ▁seven ▁hours , ▁ 4 0 ▁minutes . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Category : 1 9 7 3 ▁birth s ▁Category : L iving ▁people ▁Category : American ▁female ▁fre est yle ▁sw imm ers ▁Category : English ▁Channel ▁sw imm ers ▁Category : F em ale ▁long - distance ▁sw imm ers ▁Category : Pe ople ▁from ▁Ch appa qua , ▁New ▁York ▁Category : S ports people ▁from ▁West chester ▁County , ▁New ▁York ▁Category : Tex as ▁Long horn s ▁women ' s ▁sw imm ers ▁Category : World ▁Aqu at ics ▁Championships ▁medal ists ▁in ▁open ▁water ▁sw imming ▁Category : Univers ia de ▁medal