WATCH: Retired U.S. Navy Captain, Satellite Beach Resident Gina Harden Set to Swim the English Channel

By  //  July 16, 2021

Harden scheduled to attempt 21-mile swim sometime between July 17 – July 21

WATCH: Gina Harden, a resident of Satellite Beach for the past five years, retired with the rank of Captain and her military career was nothing short of spectacular. In 1982, she became only the seventh female diver in U.S. Navy history and at one time she was Officer in Charge of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Forward Headquarters in Afghanistan.

BREVARD COUNTY • SATELLITE BEACH, FLORIDA – When she was a ten-year-old girl standing with her father and sister looking out over the English Channel Gina Harden turned to her dad and said, “One day I am going to swim to the other side.” After an outstanding 35-year career in the U.S. Navy, the time has come.

Harden, a resident of Satellite Beach for the past five years, retired with the rank of Captain and her military career was nothing short of spectacular.

In 1982, she became only the seventh female diver in U.S. Navy history and at one time was Officer in Charge of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Forward Headquarters in Afghanistan.

And, in the latter stages of her military career, she was mobilized as Chief of Operations for the Joint Operations Center at COMUSCENTCOM.

Her personal awards include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal (two awards).

Gina Harden, a resident of Satellite Beach for the past five years, retired with the rank of Captain and her military career was nothing short of spectacular. In 1982, she became only the seventh female diver in U.S. Navy history and at one time she was Officer in Charge of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Forward Headquarters in Afghanistan.

Harden is scheduled to attempt the 21-mile swim sometime between July 17 – July 21. It has taken two years of hard training to prepare for the swim and if all goes as planned, she expects to be in the water for approximately 15 hours.

The Channel Swimming Association has strict guidelines that Harden must follow.

Some of those regulations include, staying in the water the entire time, not being able to touch anyone, or not being able to touch the boat that will be trailing her. According to Harden, all she is allowed to have is a “swim cap, bathing suit, ear plugs and goggles.”

Swimming the English Channel has been a life-long dream for me,” said Harden. “It has been a long time getting there, but I am really excited for the opportunity to do it.”

STAY TUNED TO SPACE COAST DAILY TO FOLLOW HARDEN’S SWIM ACROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.

Gina Harden’s decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy Commendation Medal (two awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal (two awards).
When she was a ten-year-old girl standing with her father and sister looking out over the English Channel Gina Harden turned to her dad and said, “One day I am going to swim to the other side.” After an outstanding 35-year career in the U.S. Navy, the time has come.
When she was a ten-year-old girl standing with her father and sister looking out over the English Channel Gina Harden turned to her dad and said, “One day I am going to swim to the other side.” After an outstanding 35-year career in the U.S. Navy, the time has come.

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