Sarah Thomas a 37-year-old  American breast cancer survivor on Tuesday, September 17  became the first person to swim the English Channel four times without stopping, a feat that took 54 hours in the cold waters that separate France from the United Kingdom.

She arrived in the morning at Dover, on the south coast of England, to the applause of a group of fans.

Thomas who a year ago recovered from breast cancer had dedicated her endeavor   "to all survivors" in a message posted on social media on Saturday.

"This is for those of us who have prayed for our lives, who have questioned ourselves in despair about what would come next and who have fought against and overcome pain and fear to " she wrote.

Thomas made two round trips between Dover and Cap Gris-Nez, a town in northern France.

The first person to swim the Channel was Captain Mathew Webb who made the crossing in  22 hours in 1875.

The first woman to cross was  American Gertrude  Ederle in 1926.