Abla Adel Khairi (right) with Giham Metwalli (left)

Abla Adel Khairi and friend Gehan Metwalli, August 1974

Thirteen year old Cairo schoolgirl Abla Khairi became the youngest person in the world to swim the English Channel. She is with her friend, 17year old Gehan Metwalli also from Cairo who made the swim with Abla in choppy seas on Saturday, finishing on Sunday Morning.

American Leonore Modell established the previous record 10 years ago, at the age of 14 years with a time of 15.5 hrs, but Abla clipped 3 hrs off this time finishing in 12hrs 30mins. Gehan Metwalli’s time is 13hs 29mins.