First Swim Between U.S. and USSR

Date: August 7, 1987 • Location: Lavrentiya, Russian Federation

Lynne Cox became the first person to swim between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, crossing from Little Diomede to Big Diomede in the Bering Strait in 2 hours and 5 minutes.

Lynne Cox is an American long-distance open water swimmer, writer, and speaker. She is best known for being the first person to swim between the United States and the Soviet Union, across the Bering Strait, a feat which has been recognized for easing Cold War tensions between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.