Our Para Champions

Melanie Barrett

Melanie and Natalie at #10Montenegro

Melanie Barrett is a blind, long distance swimmer and UltraSwim33.3 ambassador. She is the first blind person to swim the English Channel and two time Paralympic champion. She swam with UltraSwim 33.3 in #10Montenegro, inspiring all the swimmers along the way. She spoke at one of the swimmer chats which occur each evening before the event briefing and when asked what her motivation to swim was, she said ‘one day I won’t be able to do this, but today is not that day.’

Melanie swims with a headset under her swim hat and has her own kayaker who wears an orange top and sits in an orange kayak to which Melanie refers to as the ‘orange blob’.

“I have never felt so empowered, so welcomed, so supported or so strong. I now truly believe I can do anything”

Melanie’s story is incredible, her resilience and positivity inspire everyone who surrounds her.

Melanie leading a pod of swimmers in Montenegro

Sophie Etheridge

Sophie getting ready on the transfer boat #5Montenegro

WOWSA’s adaptive performance of the year nominee, Sophie Etheridge, joined us at UltraSwim33.3 because she was looking for something that would scare her! Sophie had an accident in 2011 that left her with complex regional pain syndrome and fibromyalgia. Feeling the most freedom in the water, she swam the English Channel in 2023 and joined us for #5Montenegro in 2024 and then again for #10Montenegro 2025. Sophie is extremely strong willed and determined and shows people that you can achieve anything you put your mind to. E vents like these can be nerve-wracking for people with disabilities and not because of the swim itself. It can be hard to travel to a foreign country for a ultra-endurance event, Sophie says this is the hardest part for her and that logistics often worry her. At UltraSwim33.3 we do as much as we can to make our events accessible for people like Sophie.

“What happens when you have an event team that is made up of swimmers, endurance athletes and coaches alongside a group of swimmers with goals that are determined to succeed whilst being supported by their friends and family? Answer – An UltraSwim 33.3 event.” - Sophie Etheridge

Sophie at #5Montenegro

Andy Griffiths

Andy being helped out the water at #9Greece

Andy was born with cerebral palsy and was told that he would be in a wheelchair by his teenage years. Andy’s ‘get up and go’ attitude is incredible. Not only has he swam two UltraSwim 33.3 events he also volunteered with us in Croatia. He has a positive attitude in everything he does and doesn’t let his cerebral palsy get in the way. He is an inspiring figure to everyone in endurance sports. He is also the first person to have an UltraSwim33.3 tattoo!

“My disabilities disappear in the water” Andy finds it hard to use his legs to propel him forward and he swims almost completely with his upper body. Andy will swim at #14Switzerland in 2026.

Andy looking after the cold swimmers #7Croatia