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Australian Chloe McCardel finishes marathon swim between 2 islands in Bahamas

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Australian ultra-marathon swimmer Chloe McCardel gives the thumbs up sign as she rests on a boat off the Nassau coastline early Wednesday Oct. 22, 2014 after completing her world record marathon swim attempt. McCardel was severely dehydrated and fatigued, in addition to having suffered multiple jellyfish bites and the affects of sunstroke during the 128 kilometer (80 mile) swim from the island of Eleuthera to New Providence, Bahamas. (AP Photo/Tim Aylen) (The Associated Press)

Australian ultra-marathon swimmer Chloe McCardel is given words of comfort by Jai Leal as she rests on a boat off the Nassau coastline early Wednesday Oct. 22, 2014 after completing her world record marathon swim attempt. McCardel was severely dehydrated and fatigued, in addition to having suffered multiple jellyfish bites and the affects of sunstroke during the 128 kilometer (80 mile) swim from the island of Eleuthera to New Providence, Bahamas. (AP Photo/Tim Aylen) (The Associated Press)

Australian ultra-marathon swimmer Chloe McCardel is comforted by her husband Paul McQueeney, left while Lily Hope, 6, and Luke Hope, 4, get the chance to visit with McCardel as she rests on a boat off the Nassau coastline early Wednesday Oct. 22, 2014 after completing her world record marathon swim attempt. McCardel was severely dehydrated and fatigued, in addition to having suffered multiple jellyfish bites and the affects of sunstroke during the 128 kilometer (80 mile) swim from the island of Eleuthera to New Providence. (AP Photo/Tim Aylen) (The Associated Press)

Australian swimmer Chloe McCardel has successfully completed a 78-mile (126-kilometer) swim between two islands in the Bahamas.

McCardel's support team says the 42 ½ hour effort is the longest open-water solo, continuous marathon swim in history, though such claims come with complications. The Marathon Swimmers Federation says it is difficult to compare marathon swims because currents vary in different locations and some previous efforts were not well-documented.

The 29-year-old athlete from Melbourne set out from the southern tip of Eleuthera island and reached the capital of Nassau at about 1 a.m. local time Wednesday.

She made the attempt under rules that included not being permitted to intentionally touch her support boat or hold on to anything.