TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese swimmer Hsu Wen-erh (許汶而) was recognized for completing the Triple Crown open swimming challenge at an awards ceremony on Saturday (Nov. 2).

Hsu swam across the English Channel on July 19, per CNA. She swam across Catalina Channel in California in August and around Manhattan Island in New York in October, becoming the first Taiwanese to complete the challenge.

“Couldn’t believe it was just a year ago when I first visited England, knowing nothing about doing a solo,” Hsu said in a Facebook post on Monday (Nov. 4). “This time, I came back as a Triple Crown swimmer.”

“It’s not a solo, it’s a team effort. Thank you for all my family, coaches, pilots, crews and friends,” she said.

Hsu said in an interview that as a female open water swimmer, she often faces societal constraints and unfriendly environments. She said she has even been criticized by close friends for her dreams.

However, Hsu said nothing is impossible and remarked that the ratio of women to men completing the open water swimming challenges is similar. She said she hopes Taiwanese can dare to dream bigger.