Ultra-marathon swimmer and artist Katie Pumphrey will again swim the 24 miles from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor this May, after becoming the first person to complete the journey in 2024.
“The Bay to Baltimore swim is not just a personal challenge—it’s about celebrating our city’s progress and encouraging more people to experience recreation on the water,” Pumphrey said in a statement. “I hope this continues to inspire others to embrace the possibilities of our harbor and to be part of the movement toward a cleaner, more accessible waterfront for everyone. To be able to continue to celebrate and highlight Baltimore through my sport is an honor and a dream come true.”
While the exact date of Pumphrey’s “Bay to Baltimore” swim will depend on optimal tides, water temperatures, weather conditions, and water quality, the event is scheduled to take place between May 18 and May 23.
The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, which runs the Healthy Harbor Initiative, plans to resume water quality testing during the first weekend of May.
“Katie’s swim is a testament to how far Baltimore has come in making our waterways more accessible for recreation,” said Adam Lindquist, vice president of Waterfront Partnership, in a statement. “Her dedication not only inspires others but also highlights the importance of continued investment in clean water efforts.”
A live tracker on Pumphrey’s website will allow the public to follow the swimmer’s journey virtually. Community members can also cheer her on at the finish line at the Harborplace Amphitheater.
Pumphrey completed the Bay to Baltimore swim in 13 hours and 54 minutes, starting at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and finishing at the Inner Harbor wall near the Harborplace Amphitheater.
Days before Pumphrey’s swim, about 150 people jumped into the Inner Harbor as part of the inaugural Harbor Splash event on June 23, 2024. The Harbor Splash was the Baltimore waterfront’s first public swimming event in over four decades. It celebrated the Waterfront Partnership’s determination that the harbor is safe to swim in – under the right conditions.
People should still avoid the water until at least 48 hours after heavy rainfall due to stormwater runoff negatively impacting water quality. Swimming should also take place during supervised public swim events, like the Harbor Splash, to ensure participants’ safety from boat traffic and other risks.
The Waterfront Partnership plans to bring back the Harbor Splash this year, as well as host other events such as a half-mile swim across the harbor and stand-up paddleboard races.
Water quality testing results can be found on the Waterfront Partnership’s website.
The Bay to Baltimore event was far from Pumphrey’s first ultra-marathon swim. She successfully swam the English Channel in 2015 and 2022, and she plans to take it on again this July.
Pumphrey has completed the “Triple Crown” of open water swimming, which includes the English Channel, Catalina Channel, and Manhattan Island.
Outside of the water, Pumphrey is also an accomplished artist, who will display her work in a solo exhibition titled “Swimming Pool” from Sept. 5 to Oct. 11 at the Creative Alliance.
Pumphrey is seeking corporate sponsors to support her swim as well as to improve the accessibility of open water swimming in Baltimore.
People can support Pumphrey’s mission and learn more about the Bay to Baltimore Swim on her website.
