Information courtesy of Brian Suddeth, "The Fly Guy" of Maryland. Upper photo by Darren Miller shows John Batchelder in the 30 km Three Rivers Marathon Swim. Lower photo by Clive Wright shows Brenton Williams in a 17 km butterfly swim in Marina Martinique, South Africa. . John Batchelder completed the 30 km Three Rivers Marathon Swim this weekend in 10 hours 10 minutes [see above].
While Batchelder completed his all-butterfly swim in the Ohio, Allegheny, and Monongahela Rivers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he has also completed the following butterfly swims this year: 20 Bridges Manhattan Island Swim, Extreme North Dakota Watersports Endurance Test, In Search of Memphré, Portland Bridge Swim, S.C.A.R. Swim Challenge (Canyon Lake), S.C.A.R. Swim Challenge (Saguaro Lake), Tampa Bay Marathon Swim, and the Three Rivers Marathon Swim - and he may finish his season swimming butterfly across the Catalina Channel.
His exploits call to mind the other butterfly swims in the open water around the world.
Brian Suddeth describes the effort to swim butterfly, "Butterfly is the stroke in the open water that most intrigues and fascinates us because it remains so extraordinarily difficult to do in the open water. It takes power. It takes guts. It takes strength from the shoulders to the core. It is dramatic as the body is propelled out and forward in the water. Without a doubt, butterfly is the most unforgiving and difficult of all swimming techniques, both in the pool and in the open water."
Suddeth provided calculations on his fellow butterflyers. Below are some of the speediest distance butterflyers in the world and how fast they are in miles per hour (mph) in various swims around the globe. These swims vary widely in speed, location, and conditions, but are all based on non-wetsuit, legal butterfly, with dolphin kicking only.
"The average speed for these 31 butterflyers across these 82 confirmed events is 1.78 mph (2.87 kph) without wetsuits."
1. John Batchelder (USA), 2017 20 Bridges Manhattan Island Swim around Manhattan Island (New York, USA) swam 3.75 mph (6.03 kph) over 28.50 miles (45.87 km) in 7 hours 36 minutes 30 seconds (Triple Crown leg)
2. Charles Chapman, Jr. (USA), 1988 Manhattan Island Marathon Swim around Manhattan Island (New York, USA) swam 3.03 mph (4.87 kph) over 28.50 miles (45.87 km) in 9 hours 25 minutes 8 seconds (Triple Crown leg)
3. Julie Bradshaw (UK), 2011 Manhattan Island Marathon Swim around Manhattan Island (New York, USA) swam 3.01 mph (4.85 kph) over 28.50 miles (45.87 km) in 9 hours 28 minutes (Triple Crown leg)
4. Dan Projansky (USA), 2014 Extreme North Dakota Watersports Endurance Test between Grand Forks, North Dakota and Oslo, Minnesota (USA) swam 2.99 mph (4.81 kph) over 36 miles (57.94 km) in 12 hours 2 minutes (Red River downstream swim with porous rashguard)
5. Kathryn Mason (UK), 2014 Rose Pitonof Swim between Manhattan and Coney Island (New York, USA) swam 2.99 mph (4.81 kph) over 17 miles (27.36 km) in 5 hours 41 minutes 30 seconds
6. James di Donato and Jonathon di Donato (USA), 1983 Manhattan Island Marathon Swim around Manhattan Island (New York, USA) swam 2.93 mph (4.72 kph) over 28.5 miles (45.87 km) in 9 hours 43 minutes (Triple Crown leg)
7. Héctor Ramírez Ballesteros (Spain), 2012 Descenso a Nado Ría de Navia (Spain) swam 2.67 mph (4.29 kph) over 3.11 miles (5 km) in 1 hours 10 minutes (1st butterfly crossing)
8. John Batchelder (USA), 2017 Extreme North Dakota Watersports Endurance Test between Grand Forks, North Dakota and Oslo, Minnesota (USA) swam 2.59 mph (4.16 kph) over 36 miles (57.94 km) in 13 hours 55 minutes (Red River downstream swim)
9. Natalie Lambert (Canada), 1993 Lake Erie between Canada and USA swam 2.57 mph (4.14 kph) over 20 miles (32.19 km) in 7 hours 47 minutes (fastest non-current assisted swim)
10. Dan Projansky (USA), 2013 Extreme North Dakota Watersports Endurance Test between Grand Forks, North Dakota and Oslo, Minnesota (USA) swam 2.45 mph (3.95 kph) over 27 miles (43.00 km) in 11 hours 0 minutes (Red River downstream swim with porous rashguard)
11. John Batchelder (USA), 2017 S.C.A.R. Swim Challenge in Saguaro Lake (Arizona, USA) swam 2.36 mph (3.79 kph) over 9.5 miles (15.29 km) in 4 hours 2 minutes
12. Dan Projansky (USA), 2015 Extreme North Dakota Watersports Endurance Test between Grand Forks, North Dakota and Oslo, Minnesota (USA) swam 2.34 mph (3.77 kph) over 36 miles (57.94 km) in 15 hours 22 minutes (Red River downstream swim with porous rashguard)
13. Sylvain Estadieu (France), 2013 Vibes & Scribes Lee Swim (Cork, Ireland) swam 2.31 mph (3.72 kph) over 1.24 miles (2 km) in 32 minutes 28 seconds
14. Gianni Golini (Italy), 1977 Strait of Messina between Sicily and Calabria (Italy) swam 2.30 mph (3.71 kph) over 1.99 miles (3.20 km) in 51 minutes 49 seconds (first male single butterfly crossing)
15. Brenton Williams (South Africa), 2014 Pulse Swim (Plettenberg Bay, South Africa) swam 2.27 mph (3.66 kph) over 3.11 miles (5 km) in 1 hour 22 minutes 13 seconds
16. Kyle Harris (South Africa), 2014 Pulse Swim (Plettenberg Bay, South Africa) swam 2.27 mph (3.66 kph) over 3.11 miles (5 km) in 1 hour 22 minutes 13 seconds
17. John Batchelder (USA), 2017 Portland Bridge Swim in Portland (Oregon, USA) swam 2.12 mph (3.41 kph- over 10.56 miles (17 km) in 4 hours 59 minutes
18. James di Donato and Jonathon di Donato (USA), 1985 from the Bahamas to Palm Beach, Florida, a 60-mile attempt, swam 2.02 mph (3.25 kph) over 40.60 miles (65.34 km) in 20 hours 6 minutes
19. Brenton Williams (South Africa), 2011 Steers Marina Mile in Jeffreys Bay (South Africa) swam 1.97 mph (3.17 kph) over 15.53 miles (25 km) in 7 hours 53 minutes
20. Sylvain Estadieu (France), 2010 in the Baltic Sea swam 1.95 mph (3.13 kph) over 3.73 miles (6 km) in 1 hour 55 minutes
21. Sylvain Estadieu (France), 2012 Lake Delsjön in Gothenburg (Sweden) swam 1.94 mph (3.12 kph) over 3.11 miles (5 km) in 1 hour 36 minutes
22. Gianni Golini (Italy), 1976 Strait of Messina between Sicily and Calabria (Italy) swam 1.93 mph (3.11 kph) over 4.5 miles (6.5 km) in 2 hours 23 minutes 56 seconds (first male double butterfly crossing)
23. John Batchelder (USA), 2015 Horsetooth Open Water Swim in Horsetooth Reservoir (Fort Collins, Colorado, USA) swam 1.93 mph (3.11 kph) over 6.21 miles (10 km) in 3 hours 13 minutes 10 seconds
24. John Batchelder (USA), 2017 S.C.A.R. Swim Challenge in Canyon Lake (Arizona, USA) swam 1.93 mph (3.1 kph) over 9 miles (14.48 km) in 4 hours 40 minutes
25. Robert Ouldcott (UK), 2015 Dart 10k in River Dart (Devon, England) swam 1.90 mph (3.06 kph) over 6.21 miles (10 km) in 3 hours 16 minutes 9 seconds
26. Kevin Blick (UK), 2015 Dart 10k in River Dart (Devon, England) swam 1.90 mph (3.06 kph) over 6.21 miles (10 km) in 3 hours 16 minutes 12 seconds
27. Dan Projansky (USA), 2012 Extreme North Dakota Watersports Endurance Test between Grand Forks, North Dakota and Oslo, Minnesota (USA) swam 1.86 mph (3.0 kph_ over 27 miles (43 km) in 14 hours 30 minutes (Red River downstream swim with porous rashguard)
28. Sylvain Estadieu (France), 2013 Sandycove Island (Cork, Ireland) swam 1.86 mph (2.99 kph) over 13.92 miles (22.4 km) in 7 hours 30 minutes
29. Julie Bradshaw (UK), 2006 Lough Erne (Ireland) swam 1.85 mph (2.97 kph) over 10.5 miles (16.9 km) in 5 hours 41 minutes (first butterfly crossing)
30. Ross Bogue (USA), 2007 Big Shoulders in Lake Michigan (Chicago, Illinois, USA) swam 1.85 mph (2.97 kph) over 3.11 miles (5 km) in 1 hour 40 minutes 59 seconds
31. John Batchelder (USA), 2017 Three Rivers Marathon Swim (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA) swam 1.83 mph (2.95 kph) over 18.64 miles (30 km) in 10 hours 10 minutes 40 seconds
32. Héctor Ramírez Ballesteros (Spain), 2012 Ruidera in Ciudad Real (Castile-La Mancha, Spain) swam 1.83 mph (2.94 kph) over 5.78 miles (9.3 km) in 3 hours 1 minute
33. Graham Barratt (UK), 1992 Bala Lake in northern Wales swam 1.82 mph (2.93 kph) over 3.25 miles (5.23 km) in 1 hour 47 minutes
34. Brenton Williams (South Africa), 2012 Nelson Bay Bell Buoy Challenge in Nelson Mandela Bay, (Port Elizabeth, South Africa) swam 1.80 mph (2.89 kph) over 4.97 miles (8 km) in 2 hours 46 minutes 20 seconds
35. Charles Tupitza (USA), 2013 Jim McConnell Lake Swim in Reston (Virginia, USA) swam 1.76 mph (2.84 kph) over 1 mile (1.61 km) in 34 minutes 3 seconds
36. Ross Bogue (USA), 2008 Big Shoulders in Lake Michigan (Chicago, Illinois, USA) swam 1.74 mph (2.80 kph) over 3.11 miles (5 km) in 1 hour 47 minutes 53 seconds
37. Francesca Mazari (Italy), 1992 Strait of Messina between Sicily and Calabria (Italy) swam 1.73 mph (2.79 kph) over 4.5 miles (6.5 km) in 2 hours 36 minutes 34 seconds (first female double butterfly crossing)
38. Héctor Ramírez Ballesteros (Spain), 2012 Valle de Iruelas (Ávila, Spain) swam 1.72 mph (2.77 kph) over 5.59 miles (9 km) in 3 hours 15 minutes
39. Kathryn Mason (UK), 2009 Lough Erne Irish Championships (Ireland) swam 1.72 mph (2.76 kph) over 10.56 miles (17 km) in 6 hours 9 minutes
40. Julie Bradshaw (UK), 1991 Windermere (Lake District, England) swam 1.72 mph (2.76 kph) over 10.50 miles (16.9 km) in 6 hours 7 minutes 3 seconds
41. Larry Paulson (USA), 2013 Jim McConnell Lake Swim in Reston (Virginia, USA) swam 1.70 mph (2.74 kph) over 1 mile (1.61 km) in 35 minutes 12 seconds
42. Julie Bradshaw (UK), 1995 Coniston in Furness region of Cumbria (England) swam 1.68 mph (2.71 kph) over 5.25 miles (8.45 km) in 3 hours 7 minutes (first butterfly crossing)
43. Ross Bogue (USA), 2011 Big Shoulders in Lake Michigan (Chicago, Illinois, USA) swam 1.67 mph (2.69 kph) over 3.11 miles (5 km) in 1 hour 51 minutes 42 seconds
44. Sylvain Estadieu (France), 2013 Lake Delsjön in Gothenburg (Sweden) swam 1.67 mph (2.69 kph) over 13.36 miles (21.5 km) in 8 hours 0 minutes
45. Brenton Williams (South Africa), 2012 Marina Martinique in Jeffreys Bay (South Africa) swam 1.67 mph (2.69 kph) over 10.56 miles (17 km) in 6 hours 20 minutes
46. Vicki Keith (Canada), 1989 Sydney Harbour in Australia swam 1.67 mph (2.68 kph) over 22.50 miles (36.21 km) in 13 hours 30 minutes
47. Brenton Williams (South Africa), 2011 Jeffreys Bay Swim Challenge in Jeffreys Bay (South Africa) swam 1.62 mph (2.61 kph) over 2.49 miles (4 km) in 1 hour 32 minutes
48. Julie Bradshaw (UK), 1996 Ullswater in Cumbria (England) swam 1.62 mph (2.6 kph) over 7.25 miles (11.67 km) in 4 hours 29 minutes (first butterfly crossing)
49. John Batchelder (USA), 2017 Tampa Bay Marathon Swim in Florida (USA) swam 1.61 mph (2.60 kph) over 24 miles (38.62 km) in 14 hours 41 minutes
50. Héctor Ramírez Ballesteros (Spain), 2012 Cullera Bay in Gulf of Valencia (Spain) swam 1.61 mph (2.59 kph) over 6.21 miles (10 km) in 3 hours 52 minutes
51. Melissa Yasmin Berkay (USA), 2016 Catalina Channel in Southern California (USA) swam 1.60 mph (2.58 kph) over 20.20 miles (32.5 km) in 12 hours 37 minutes (Triple Crown leg)
52. Kathryn Mason (UK), 2012 Irish Long Distance Championship in Lough Erne (Ireland) swam 1.59 mph (2.56 kph) over 15.53 miles (25 km) in 9 hours 45 minutes
53. Robin Lajoie (Canada), 2014 Welland Open Water Swim in Ontario (Canada) swam 1.55 mph (2.49 kph) over 6.21 miles (10 km) in 4 hours 35 seconds
54. Eli Ball (Australia), 2015 Sri Chinmoy National Capital Swim in Lake Burley Griffin (Canberra, Australia) swam 1.52 mph (2.45 kph) over 5.56 miles (9 km) in 3 hours 39 minutes
55. Joe Bakel (USA), 2013 Horsetooth Open Water Swim in Horsetooth Reservoir (Fort Collins, Colorado, USA) swam 1.52 mph (2.45 kph) over 6.21 miles (10 km) in 4 hours 5 minutes 23 seconds
56. Brenton Williams (South Africa), 2012 Shell Festival Sea Swim in Jeffreys Bay (South Africa) swam 1.51 mph (2.43 kph) over 1.55 miles (2 km) in 1 hour 1 minute 40 seconds
57. Julie Bradshaw (UK), 2002 English Channel between England and France swam 1.48 mph (2.37 kph) over 21 miles (34 km) in 14 hours 18 minutes (Triple Crown leg)
58. Ross Bogue (USA), 2014 Big Shoulders in Lake Michigan (Chicago, Illinois, USA) swam 1.47 mph (2.37 kph) over 3.11 miles (5 km) in 2 hours 6 minutes 50 seconds
59. John Batchelder (USA), 2017 In Search of Memphré across Lake Memphremagog (Vermont, USA to Quebec, Canada) swam 1.46 mph (2.35 kph) over 25 miles (40.23 km) in 17 hours 9 minutes
60. Robin Lajoie (Canada), 2012 Welland Open Water Swim in Ontario (Canada) swam 1.44 mph (2.32 kph) over 6.21 miles (10 km) in 4 hours 18 minutes
61. Vicki Keith (Canada), 1989 Lake Winnipeg in Canada swam 1.43 mph (2.30 kph) over 18.57 miles (28.90 km) in 13 hours 0 minutes
62. Kathryn Mason (UK), 2014 S.C.A.R. Swim Challenge in Saguaro Lake (Arizona, USA) swam 1.43 mph (2.29 kph) over 9.5 miles (15.2 km) in 6 hours 3 minutes 54 seconds
63. Vicki Keith (Canada), 1989 Strait of Juan de Fuca between the USA and Canada swam 1.42 mph (2.29 kph) over 19.88 miles (32 km) in 14 hours 0 minutes
64. Brian Suddeth (USA), 2011 Great Chesapeake Bay Swim - One Mile Challenge in Stevensville (Maryland, USA) swam 1.41 mph (2.26 kph) over 1 mile (1.61 km) in 42 minutes 46 seconds (first butterfly completion)
65. Brian Suddeth (USA), 2013 Great Chesapeake Bay Swim - One Mile Challenge in Stevensville (Maryland, USA) swam 1.40 mph (2.25 kph) over 1 mile (1.61 km) in 43 minutes 0 seconds
66. Vicki Keith (Canada), 1989 Catalina Channel in Southern California (USA) swam 1.37 mph (2.21 kph) over 20.20 miles (32.50 km) in 14 hours 43 minutes 3 seconds (Triple Crown leg)
67. Brenton Williams (South Africa), 2012 Deep Blue Invitational Swim in South Africa swam 1.35 mph (2.17 kph) over 4.97 miles (8 km) in 3 hours 41 minutes
68. Brian Suddeth (USA), 2015 Oxford-Bellevue Sharkfest in Oxford (Maryland, USA) swam 1.32 mph (2.13 kph) over 0.93 miles (1.5 km) in 42 minutes 33 seconds in
69. Frequent Flyers (UK), 2015 English Channel between England and France swam 1.30 mph (2.09 kph) over 21 miles (34 km) in 19 hours 15 minutes (butterfly relay members Mark Johansen, Kevin "Tricky Blicky" Blick, Samantha "Sam" Mould, Robert Ouldcott, Boris Mavra, Robert Fisher)
70. Sylvain Estadieu (France), 2012 Lake Vidöstern in Sweden swam 1.29 mph (2.08 kph) over 8.39 miles (13.5 km) in 6 hours 30 minutes (21.5 km attempt)
71. Julie Bradshaw (UK), 2000 Coniston in the Furness region (Cumbria, England) swam 1.26 mph (2.03 kph) over 11 miles (17.7 km) in 8 hours 42 minutes (first 2-way butterfly crossing)
72. Sylvain Estadieu (France), 2013 English Channel between England and France swam 1.26 mph (2.03 kph) over 21 miles (34 km) in 16 hours 41 minutes (Triple Crown leg)
73. Philip Martin (Australia), 2001 Rottnest Channel in Western Australia swam 1.25 mph (2.02 kph) over 12.24 miles (19.7 km) in 9 hours 45 minutes 1 seconds (first butterfly crossing)
74. Kathryn Mason (UK), 2014 S.C.A.R. Swim Challenge across Roosevelt Lake (Arizona, USA) swam 1.24 mph (1.99 kph) over 6 miles (10 km) in 4 hours 51 minutes 22 seconds
75. Julie Bradshaw (UK), 2006 Bala Lake in northern Wales swam 1.22 mph (1.96 kph) over 6.50 miles (10.46 km) in 5 hours 2 minutes (first butterfly crossing)
76. Dan Projansky (USA), 2014 S.C.A.R. Swim Challenge across Saguaro Lake (Arizona, USA) swam 1.15 mph (1.86 kph) over 9.5 miles (15.2 km) in 8 hours 8 minutes 20 seconds
77. James di Donato and Jonathon di Donato (USA), 1982 Fort Lauderdale to Pompano Beach (Florida, USA) swam 1.11 mph (1.79 kph) over 16.5 miles (26.55 km) in 14 hours 50 minutes (world record butterfly distance)
78. Héctor Ramírez Ballesteros (Spain), 2013 Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and Morocco swam 1.11 mph (1.79 kph) over 8.7 miles (14.4 km) in 7 hours 5 minutes
79. Vicki Keith (Canada), 1985 Lake Ontario in Canada swam 1.04 mph (1.68 kph) over 12 miles (19.3 km) in 11 hours 30 minutes (world record butterfly distance)
80. Vicki Keith (Canada), 2005 Lake Ontario in Canada swam 1.03 mph (1.66 kph) over 32 miles (51.5 km) in 31 hours 0 minutes
81. Vicki Keith (Canada), 1989 English Channel between England and France swam 0.96 mph (1.54 kph) over 21 miles (34 km) in 23 hours 33 minutes
82. Vicki Keith (Canada), 2005 Lake Ontario in Canada swam 0.78 mph (1.26 kph) over 49.83 miles (80.2 km) in 63 hours 40 minutes (world record butterfly distance)
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