BAY TO              

BALTIMORE

SWIM          

TUESDAY, JUNE 25TH ~

TUESDAY, JUNE 25TH ~

On June 25th, Katie Pumphrey became the first person to swim 24-miles from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

Pumphrey started the swim June 25th at 3:19am and completed the swim in 13 hours 54 minutes.

Katie Pumphrey’s Bay to Baltimore swim will be a history making 24-mile swim and will serve as a celebration for the decades-long clean up efforts to make the Baltimore Harbor swimmable, and a safe recreational resource for the city.

With several Baltimore based organizations and businesses coming together to make this swim possible, this swim honors the strong and resilient spirit of the Baltimore community.

Start: Sandy Point State Park at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge

Finish: Harborplace Amphitheater in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor

Distance: 24 miles

Swim window: June 24 - 27, 2024

~3:00am start time. Estimated 12-13 hour swim, based on Katie’s typical swim pace. Wind, tides, and conditions conditions will impact this greatly.

The swim window was chosen based on optimal tides and water temperatures, and in communication with the US Coast Guard Sector Maryland (especially regarding the clean up efforts of the tragic Key Bridge collapse). The official swim date chosen with ideal weather and swim conditions as the determining factor.

This swim will follow the rules of the Marathon Swimmers Federation (MSF). Two observers will document and verify the swim’s adherence to MSF rules and regulations. Pending MSF ratification, this will officially record the for the history books. With that record and data, future marathon swimmers will be able attempt the 24-mile Bay to Baltimore swim. 

All swim details and updates will be posted on this page, including and a tracker link will be shared so you can follow along in real time!

We invite everyone to follow this swim, cheer Katie on, and join us at the finish line to celebrate this history making swim and milestone of a swimmable harbor for Baltimore!

Katie Pumphrey

“As a proud Baltimorean, I am beyond excited to celebrate this milestone for my city, and to be the first person on record to complete a swim of this scale in these waters.”

Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore

Katie Pumphrey’s Bay to Baltimore Swim is in collaboration with the non-profit organization Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore Inc, which has served as our city’s advocate, promoter, and steward for the waterfront since 2005.

Dedicated to enhancing and promoting the waterfront district, parks, and public spaces, Waterfront Partnership creates welcoming programs, events, and recreational experiences while working toward a healthy harbor. They are committed to fostering connections among diverse communities to ensure equitable access to our blue and green spaces.

Mr. Trash Wheel

Mr. Trash Wheel is part of Waterfront Partnership’s signature programs, a famous Baltimore icon, social media celebrity, local landmark, and part of the semiautonomous trash interceptor family in the Baltimore Harbor and surrounding waters!

Mr. Trash Wheel himself will join Katie for the last stretch of the swim and escort her into Harborplace! We invite the public to join us all at the Finish Line and celebrate this milestone for Baltimore and cheer Katie into the finish!

Water Quality

Waterfront Partnership’s Healthy Harbor Initiative works to restore and protect our City’s most valuable asset—the Baltimore Harbor. Our human affinity for nature, fostered by a direct emotional connection with the marine environment, will restore the balance between our city, the Patapsco river, and the Chesapeake Bay. Through Healthy Harbor projects, programs, and partnerships, they are educating the public about what lives beneath the surface and how we can all fight for the urban ecosystem through the actions we take. Clean water means cleaning and greening neighborhoods, and a healthy harbor equals a healthy city.

Weather and rainfall play a big role in determining the swim day for Katie Pumphrey’s Bay to Baltimore Swim. Like in any body of water, we should not swim in the 48 hours after a heavy rainfall, as runoff and overflow from heavy rains impact water quality. Baltimore’s harbor is now safe to swim on “dry days,” meaning outside of the 48 hours following heavy rainfall. This data has been studied closely by Waterfront Partnership’s Healthy Harbor Initiative.

The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore collects water samples from 5 sites in the Harbor 5 days a week. Samples are taken to the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science to be analyzed according to the EPA’s Recreational Water Quality Criteria.

Impact of Key Bridge collapse

On March 26th, 2024, the Francis Scott Key bridge collapsed after being struck by a cargo ship. Our city and community is still reeling from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and the unimaginable losses suffered, including the lives of 6 workers who were on the bridge when it collapsed.

If you are looking for ways to support those impacted by the bridge collapse, or if you are seeking support as a result of the disaster, here is a list of resources across the city.

IMPACT of Key Bridge collapse on swim

An incredible effort has been made, by so many organizations, to recover lives lost in the collapse, clear the Patapsco river, and restore the port. The tragedy not only forever changes the skyline of our city, but is a reminder of the lifeline the Patapsco River has served for our community for decades.

Originally Katie Pumphrey’s Bay to Baltimore Swim was planned for mid-May. In response to the tragedy of the Key Bridge collapse and in communication with US Coast Guard Sector Maryland, we have pushed the swim back to late June give more time for the clean up efforts and be able to safely attempt this swim. It is our hope, that this swim can honor the strength of this community and the resilient spirit of the Baltimore.

A Gofundme has been set up to support funding costs for Katie Pumphrey’s Bay to Baltimore swim. 10% of all proceeds will be donated to the Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Fund, which was established by the Baltimore Community Foundation.

Katie Pumphrey, 36, is an ultra marathon open water swimmer and visual artist. She lives and works in Baltimore, MD.

Katie’s major open water swims include two English Channel swims in 2015 and 2022, around the island of Manhattan in 2017, and the Catalina Channel in 2018. Those three swims make up the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, making Katie the 194th person (73rd woman) in the world to achieve that honor.
Katie is currently working towards a number of big swims, including a 2nd Triple Crown and her 3rd English Channel in 2025.

When not training or coaching other swimmers, Katie is a full-time visual artist. Her large scale paintings and sculptures are deeply connected to swimming, and her experiences in the water continue to drive and greatly influence her work. 

Katie lives in Baltimore City, Maryland with her husband Joe and two dogs, Monty & Adja.

About Katie

  • -English Channel, 2015, 2022

    -Circumnavigation Manhattan, 2017

    -Catalina Channel, 2018

    -First Double Potomac Swim, 15mi, 2014

    -First Double Length Deep Creek Lake, 21mi, 2021

    -DC Marathon Swim, 2023

  • -Baltimore Magazine, Local Artist Katie Pumphrey Just Swam the English Channel- Again

    -No Pix After Dark Podcast, EP 133: Katie Pumphrey Baltimore Artist & Open Water Swimmer

    - KonkLife, Katie Pumphrey’s English Channel Swim

    -BmoreArt, ArtAND: Katie Pumphrey

    -Shoutout LA, Meet Katie Pumphrey | Artist and Open Water Swimmer

    -Highlandtown Arts District, Artist Profile: Katie Pumphrey

    -CBS Baltimore, Baltimore’s Katie Pumphrey Becomes 73rd Woman In History To Complete The Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming

    -Florida Weekly, Katie Pumphrey: Painting for her life

    -Washington Post, Baltimore Artist completes English Channel swim in 14 hours 19 minutes

    -Jolyn Clothing Blog, Motivational Mondays: Katie Pumphrey

    -Tim Corbin Films, About Living

    -Washington Post, Katie Pumphrey completes 15-mile open water swim

    -Washington Post, Across the Potomac and onto the Channel

    -Washington Post, Think you’re working out hard? Consider Katie Pumphrey’s week

    -Washington Post, How Much Can This Woman Eat?

    -Washington Post, Training to Swim English Channel

Documentary Film

by Boob Sweat Films

“Boob Sweat is particularly excited to help tell the story of Katie Pumphrey’s upcoming marathon swim in Baltimore. This story encompasses a fascinating crossover of elements we are passionate about such as environmental progress, fine art, athletic excellence, and female ambition – all set in our hometown. Katie describes her swim as a “love letter to Baltimore” and we enthusiastically echo this desire to show a side of this city that is rarely depicted in mainstream media. We hope this film will celebrate both Baltimore’s newly swimmable waterways as well as Katie’s own drive to complete an impressive marathon swim which has never before been attempted.”

ABOUT BOOB SWEAT FILMS
Boob Sweat, LLC is a female-driven team of filmmakers based in Baltimore, Maryland, including producers, directors, animators, sound engineers, cinematographers, and editors. In the summer of 2018, during a long, hot day on set, we began referring to our collective film endeavors as “boob sweat.” As our collaborations continued over many more productions, this phrase came to signify the empowerment we felt as a team of women working together in a male-dominated industry. Boob Sweat intentionally selects and develops projects which emphasize this empowerment in their content as well; our films depict the diverse world we live in and amplify voices which are rarely heard.

Boat Support provided by

Freedom Boat Club

To help ensure a safe and successful swim, two support boats provided by Freedom Boat Club, with alternating captains, including Captain Todd Nicusanti and Captain Allen Rex, both from Freedom Boat Club, as well as Captain Bobby LaPin from Boat Baltimore Sail Local, who will pilot the swim.

“Freedom Boat Club is thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in this historic event in support of Katie and her team, helping to raise awareness about all the great experiences on the water, in and around the City of Baltimore.” — Freedom Boat Club

Meet the Crew

  • Crew Chief

    Joe Mahach, Katie’s Husband

  • Observer

    Caroline Block, Ultra Marathon Open Swimmer

  • Support Swimmer

    Meaghan Carpenter, Open Water Swimmer / Katie’s Friend

  • Support Swimmer

    Sarah Eikrem, Open Water Swimmer / Katie’s Friend

  • Crew / Kayaker

    Chris Pumphrey, Katie’s brother

  • Crew / Kayaker

    Nayev Pumphrey, Katie’s niece

  • Crew / Kayaker

    Sean Pumphrey, Katie’s Brother

  • Observer

    Stephanie Boyle, Katie’s friend

  • Crew / Alt Observer

    Christine Haeseler, Katie’s friend

“It’s hard to fully comprehend just how much work went into getting Baltimore to this milestone of a swimmable Inner Harbor. It took the belief and commitment from so many people and organizations that deeply care for this city. 

I can’t wait to swim towards Baltimore, towards home, and truly celebrate this major milestone of a swimmable harbor for our city. I love Baltimore, and I’m so proud to live here. In many ways, this swim is my love letter to Baltimore City,”

-Katie Pumphrey

Sponsors & Partners

Thank you to all sponsors & partners, as well as individual donors! The journey of this swim, and all of the training and steps it takes to get there, wouldn’t be possible without your generous support!

Sponsorships & Partnerships directly contribute towards the costs of the Bay to Baltimore swim, including, but not limited to, logistical support, media and film coverage, digital assets, equipment, supplies, travel and lodging expenses, as well as costs associated with all swims in Katie’s 2024 season, in which she will continue to promote Baltimore as a new destination for open water swimmers. This sport is one that requires a lot of support, time in training, and a team to make it a success.

Contact Katie directly at pumphreykatie@gmail.com.

Contact Katie

Contact Katie directly at: pumphreykatie@gmail.com or via form —>