Des Renford with CSA certificates

Des Renford pointing the route of his swim from England to France. Certificates from the Channel Swimming Association are on the wall in the background.

Australian professional swimmer Des Renford 49 of Sydney, who gained the “King of the Channel” award in August 1976 after crossing the channel 10 times between 1970 and 1976, has retired from channel swimming. He turned professional in 1967 and competed in Canada and the United States professional swimming circuits. In 1975 he swam around Alcatraz island in San Francisco Bay.