WAILUKU, Hawaii, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Marathon swimmer Meredith Novack swam Hawaii's Auau Channel, a 20-mile round-trip between Lanai and Maui islands, in a record time of 11 hours and one minute.
Novack, 38, broke the previous record Sunday, set in 2008 by Peter Attia, by 44 minutes, and is the only woman to attempt the two-way swim, the Honolulu Star Advertiser reported Monday.
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It was only after she completed the swim that she was informed by her support crew a 15-foot tiger shark accompanied her for part of the journey.
"The only thing that kept me safe was the Shark Shield," Novack said, referring to an electronic shark-deterrent device. "I'm glad they didn't tell me."
