Katie Pumphrey is an American ultramarathon open water swimmer. Katie is a force in the water. On June 25, 2024, she made history as the first person to complete the Bay to Baltimore swim—a grueling 24-mile journey from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. She is also one of the elite few to achieve the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, having conquered the English Channel, the Catalina Channel, and a 28.5-mile swim around Manhattan.

A graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art, her paintings, sculptures, and installations use abstraction and humor to examine how our imagination shapes our fears. Her art has been exhibited in galleries across the U.S., including solo shows in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Key West.

Katie is currently training for her 3rd English Channel in 2025.

Katie lives in Baltimore City, Maryland with her husband Joe and their dog, Adja.

In this episode of My Fame, Explained, we dive into Pumphrey’s artistic process, her mindset as an endurance athlete, and how both worlds intersect in her life. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about pushing limits—on canvas and in open water.

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