Melanie Barratt

EyeCan: Melanie Barratt - Paralympic gold medalist, world‑record holder, and the first blind woman ever to swim the English Channel.

Melanie takes listeners on a gripping journey from her childhood with congenital toxoplasmosis to standing on international podiums… and ultimately to conquering one of the toughest open‑water swims on the planet.

Through candid, warm, often funny storytelling, Melanie shares:

 

Episode Highlights

Early challenges: Sight loss, and how swimming became her “happy place” and lifelong sanctuary.

The making of her documentary Untethered: Meeting filmmaker Danielle online, accessing funding from Sky Sports, and crafting a fully accessible film with audio description, captioning, BSL interpretation, and music by a DeafBlind composer

Innovating how blind swimmers navigate open water: From early kayak‑guided attempts to eventually mastering a radio‑guided bone‑conduction system based on clock‑face directions. 

The emotional reality of swimming the English Channel: The darkness, sickness, mental battles, mantras, moments of doubt, and the powerful impact of hearing messages from home mid‑crossing. 

Overcoming misconceptions in sport: Raising nearly £18,000 for British Blind Sport — the organisation that first opened the world of swimming to her.

How swimming in Montenegro transformed her self‑identity: Leaving her feeling truly seen, celebrated, and proud of being blind.

Her mission now: making open‑water swimming accessible for all, challenging event barriers, encouraging young people, and helping others discover the freedom she found in the water. 

 

Stay up to date with Melanie

Facebook: Blind Girl Swims - Facebook

Instagram: @blind_girl_swims

 

 

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