Ridgewood Swimmer Charlotte Samuels Honored For Leadership

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. – Charlotte Samuels, the famous open-water swimmer who swam across the English Channel, will be honored with be honored by the Bergen County YWCA in May.

Samuels will be given the YWCA’s Young Leader Award at the organization’s 95th anniversary gala May 9.

Samuels became the first person ever to swim more than 20 miles from Long Island to the Jersey Shore through the New York Blight. She completed the journey in 9:44:26 in August.

Samuels became the youngest person to finish the triple crown of marathon open-water swimming when she crossed the English Channel in September after she swam around Manhattan, and between Southern California and Catalina Island.

Samuels and her family have raised money for Citizens for Swimming, a program that teaches Paterson youths how to swim at Ridgewood’s Graydon Pool during the summer.

“Charlotte is an incredible young woman. Her achievements as an athlete and swimmer only begin to showcase her power and integrity,” said Helen Archontou, the Y’s chief executive officer.

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Photo: Charlotte Samuels, fourth from left, being honored at a village mayor and council meeting./Patch file photo