Elaine K. Howley is a Boston-based freelance journalist who has covered open water swimming for over 15 years. She’s also a lifelong swimmer and an avid marathon and ice swimmer and founder of Channel Support Services, which offers consultation and support for marathon and ice swimmers looking for logistical and crewing assistance. 

Elaine has supported more than 30 successful marathon and ice swims as support crew, including Sarah Thomas’ unprecedented, 84-mile four-way crossing of the English Channel in 2019. She has also acted as official observer on nearly 20 marathon and ice swims, including Caroline Block’s unprecedented 64-mile double Lake George crossing in 2020. 

In 2023, the International Swimming Hall of Fame awarded Elaine its prestigious Buck Dawson's Author Award for her work as ghostwriter on Thomas Gompf’s memoir, "A Life Aloft,” published in 2022 by CG Sports Publishing. 

Follow Elaine on Instagram!