Neal Rayner ’90

On Aug. 10, 2005, Neal Rayner ’90 joined an elite circle of swimmers who have swum from England to France across the choppy English Channel. One of about 700 swimmers to complete the swim since 1875, Rayner made the crossing in 13 hours, 50 minutes.

His time was short of the 7 hours, 3 minute record set just nine days before, but that is OK with Rayner. He says that for him, the feat was not about beating records but about fulfilling a dream he’s held since he was a child.

He estimates that it took him approximately 54,000 strokes to complete his swim – somewhere between 21 and 30 miles distance, depending on route, tides and individual trajectory. After the swim through the 53-degree water, Rayner enjoyed a privilege afforded only to the successful few. He signed the ceiling at the famous White Horse Inn in Dover.

A former UCLA water polo player, Rayner has worked as a lifeguard in Los Angeles and a high school swimming and water polo coach in Marin County, Calif. He holds an M.B.A. from UC Berkeley and has worked in public relations and in product management for snowboard clothing and equipment companies. Currently, Rayner is vice president of special projects for Rayner Landscaping. Find out more about his swim at his website.