SIX BELARUSIAN WOMEN. ONE MISSION.

Water has been with me since childhood. But I didn't come to sport early — I was 11, when others had been swimming since 7. I was a sickly child: colds, bronchitis, pneumonia. My parents didn't really believe in me; sport was more "for the immune system."

I'm 36. And I've devoted my whole life to it.

After swimming — the national triathlon team. Six years later, an injury. Anger. Despair. The end of a career, but not the end of sport.

I chose rehabilitation, a love of movement, and the coaching profession. For 14 years I've been teaching people to swim, finish marathons, full Ironmans, and ultra-distances. I help people overcome fears and self-doubt. I make them fall in love with sport, and I continue to train myself — for my soul and out of love.

When I was offered the chance to swim the English Channel, I thought for exactly 2 seconds. Even though after the World Final Championship in Dubai (10 km open water) I swore I'd never do long swims again — the chafing on my neck was terrible.

But I'm too in love with water to turn down a challenge like this. Being part of a team of brave and incredible Belarusian women is an honor.

I always really wanted to swim and do sport, but I only truly realized my dreams after thirty. In my life, there's a clear boundary: "no sport at all" and, finally, "a lot of sport." Everything before and after — two different periods, two different versions of me.

I'm patient, persistent, and disciplined. I love movement, growth, and the feeling of constant progress. I chose sport consciously — out of a great love and a childhood dream that had been waiting for its moment.

First came running. Races, events, running communities — I fully immersed myself in that world. But after a couple of years, I suddenly felt it wasn't enough. I discovered triathlon. And with it, swimming truly entered my life. Learning was hard and long, but in the water I still felt like a fish — as if I'd been doing it my whole life. Pools, lakes, rivers, seas — swimming opened up a new world I'd dreamed of since childhood, one that seemed to have been waiting just for me.

2018. My first long distance — 3.8 km as part of my first Ironman.

And it all took off from there.

A message. An instant call. The question: "Are you swimming the Channel?"

The decision inside happened in seconds. Then came the realization, the understanding of the scale, and an incredible pride that I am one of the bravest and most amazing women. Just as daring, strong, a little crazy, and very close in spirit to this team.

For me, the English Channel is the most incredible challenge and adventure at the same time — with a team of Belarusian women. I am truly glad and happy to walk the entire path: from the hard working days of preparation, early mornings, and cold water to the euphoria, tears of joy, and goosebumps at the finish — together with them.

I never liked swimming.

In 2019, I was told for the first time that I couldn't run. There was no cycling in my life yet. The running school had a swimming program. So I decided — I bought a slot in Marseille to swim in 5 months.

A friend said: you'll learn in time if you don't skip.

I skipped two sessions.

At the mass start, I had a panic attack.

A storm broke out.

I was gasping for air but finished with breaststroke.

And while swimming, I decided: I really need to learn.

Learning was hard.

Everyone had been swimming faster and better than me for years.

I swam my first 5 km at the Minsk Sea in 2019 — in almost three hours, after Marseille.

In 2020, I got a bit faster.

In 2021 — a little more.

2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 — already Vilnius, the Green Lakes.

And in 2025, I suddenly realized that 10 km no longer sounded impossible — and I swam them.

Since 2019, I've come to love triathlon and run many marathons.

Every year I looked for something new.

Something that makes your legs tremble before the start and fills you with euphoria to tears at the finish.

To convince myself again and again: anything is possible.

Sport became my way of life.

And a way to find true friends.

Because sport shows people at their most vulnerable.

And it is precisely vulnerability, the need to push through hardship, and sharing the same experience that brings people closest together.

I was inspired to swim the Channel by Lithuanian women who crossed it in 2025.

After meeting them, it became clear: this is my dream too.

And that we can do it.

Now Masha and I train with them.

They are very supportive.

I am so proud of our team.

And incredibly happy to walk this path together with each of us.

Every woman on this team is strength and inspiration.

And the journey to the start together with you —

that is my true reward.

It's hard to believe that just over a year ago I couldn't swim at all, and now I'm preparing to cross the English Channel with a group of equally determined women.

I've always loved running, but sport was never an integral part of my life. It all started with a marathon. The following year, I decided to do a full Ironman. And this year, I received perhaps the most incredible offer of my life — to swim the English Channel.

I agreed almost immediately because I realized: this is a priceless experience and an incredible team of women with whom I want to swim to the end. It will be the hardest challenge of my life, but I'm sure — by supporting each other, we will succeed and fulfill our shared dream of becoming the first Belarusian women's team to cross the English Channel.

Swimming appeared in my life during my second pregnancy.

I simply wanted to stop being afraid of water.

Then came a long break — almost 12 years.

And only in the summer of 2025, I started again — first in a lake, now in a pool.

Now I train 6 times a week.

I'm not really about sport.

I'm about rights.

The right to be yourself, to start from zero, to choose your own path.

To live in a new country, raise two daughters, and still — not deny yourself a dream.

Now we are preparing to swim the English Channel.

If someone had told me this a year ago — I wouldn't have believed it.

For this dream, I've changed a lot. In myself and around myself.

I'm scared. But I keep going.

Because when I look at myself honestly, I understand: I've already been through a lot.

So why not swim the English Channel?

And also — I'm not alone.

The people around me believe in me. And that gives me strength.

My name is Nastya, and I'm probably the most unpredictable member of this magnificent six.

Until last year, I was a decent runner: three marathons, one ultramarathon, and countless half-marathons under my belt. I always liked swimming too, but more as a winter hobby — that's when the pool calls to me.

Now, even a simple walk is sometimes difficult for me. But I decided that this is no reason to turn down such an incredible offer and not try to become part of the team that will swim the English Channel.

I sincerely believe that I can be the one who steps up to the start line, and not just remain in the support group.