Maryland native embarks on a 24-mile swim from Bay Bridge to Inner Harbor

In a groundbreaking endeavor, marathon swimmer Katie Pumphrey, a native of Maryland, embarked on a daring 24-mile swim from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Annapolis to the Inner Harbor of Baltimore on Tuesday morning. This unprecedented feat marks a historic moment as no one has ever attempted this challenging swim before. Pumphrey, known for her passion for swimming since childhood, has already achieved significant milestones in open water swimming, including completing The Three Swims, which consists of swimming the English Channel, the Catalina Channel, and a 28.5-mile swim in Manhattan. Setting off from Sandy Point State Park at 3:19 a.m., Pumphrey's mission is not only a personal challenge but also a potential trailblazing achievement that she hopes will be officially recognized by the Marathon Swimmers Federation for future endeavors. The Inner Harbor, once plagued by pollution, has undergone extensive cleanup efforts over the years and was recently declared swimmable and fishable, adding symbolic significance to Pumphrey's swim as a testament to the harbor's improved environmental status. With an estimated completion time of 12 to 14 hours, depending on weather conditions and her pace, Pumphrey aims to reach the Harborplace Amphitheater by 5 p.m., where her journey will culminate as a tribute to Baltimore and a celebration of the harbor's revitalization. Accompanied by two observers documenting her progress, Pumphrey's swim represents not only a personal triumph but also a symbolic gesture of resilience and determination in the face of challenges, inspiring others to push boundaries and embrace new possibilities in the realm of open water swimming.