Place of Birth: Dublin
Current City: Dublin
Swimming Biography
Feilim is a member of the Phoenix Swimming Club, Dublin and has been involved in open water swimming for many years. He has numerous swimming achievements to his credit:
   Dublin Bay – 5 miles (1994)
   Bray to Dublin – 12 miles (1995)
   Lough Erne – 10.5 miles (1998 and 1999)
   Clew Bay – 10k (2002)
   Inishboffin – 11.5k (2002)
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Feilim was a member of relay teams that successfully swam from Holyhead to Dublin, the English and North Channels, and the Aran Islands to Galway.
Feilim's Aran Island to Galway solo swim was an outstanding achievement. On the 6th of August 2002, he became the first person ever to swim this 24 mile stretch of water in 14 hours and 59 minutes.
Swimmer's Report – English Channel
Direction: England to France
On the 5th of August 1998 at 10am, Feilim entered the water from Shakespeare Beach, Dover. The sea state was three and water temperature was 63 degrees F (15.5 degrees C). The first few hours were choppy but sunny. Feilim's two main concerns were keeping the boat in sight and not swallowing any water. Since he was swimming backstroke, he had nothing in his field of view and in the open sea this is very unnerving.
Feilim finished the first 12 hour stretch and in the early hours of the following day, he came up against a wall. He looked ahead and everything was black, sea and sky. Both his arms and legs were cramping up and he was getting very cold!. At this point, Feilim decided to change to front crawl stroke. This helped him until the sun started to rise and the sea became calm. Felim says 'the sight of the sun rising over the horizon, spreading the orange light over the blue sea' is an image he will never forget.
Feilim landed on the beach at Calais at 7.35am. The swim had taken him 21 hours and 35 minutes. He had covered over 40 miles and lost 14 lbs in weight.
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