Julie Bradshaw's illustrious swimming career began aged 15 when she became the fastest British Junior to swim the English Channel. Her world record collection began in the 1980s and included a 4 Way Lake Windermere solo swim in 23 hours 17 minutes. This continued through the 90s and 00s and in 2002, she achieved her 12th world record with the legendary butterfly solo swim of the English Channel in 14 hours 18 minutes. In 2011, she then became the fastest ever person to circumnavigate the 28.5-mile course around Manhattan Island using the butterfly stroke completing the challenge in 9 hours and 28 minutes. She currently holds around 20 world swimming records.
Her reputation had earned her several prestigious honours. In 2004 she was nominated for The Sunday Times Inspirational Award and in 2006 Julie was awarded an MBE for her services to swimming and charity.
In the same year, Loughborough University conferred upon Julie an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of her outstanding achievements. 2007, meanwhile saw Julie recognized further with a place in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, Fort Lauderdale, USA. In 2018, as the organiser of the Blackpool Pier to Pier Swim, she brought it back to her hometown.
Alongside her swimming, Julie has worked part-time as a Sports Science lecturer at Loughborough University for 17 years. She is also a Borough Councillor for Charnwood and a counsellor at a college in Loughborough. She runs private counselling, therapy and life coaching services in Loughborough and Blackpool and is a coach of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming). In addition, Julie is a motivational and after-dinner motivational speaker, travelling the country inspiring people with her talks and stories.
