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Martin StrelRecord holder for ultra-long distance swimming
Date of Birth: 01.10.1954
Country:  Slovenia |
Content:
Martin Strel's Biography
Martin Strel, a Slovenian swimmer, is renowned for his long-distance swims. His name has appeared in the Guinness World Records several times, with his most famous achievement being a swim along the Amazon River that lasted 66 days. Strel covered a distance of 5,268 km, becoming the first person to conquer this river. Over time, he has conquered other rivers such as the Danube, Mississippi, and Yangtze.
Early Life and Career
Martin Strel was born in 1954 in Mokronog, SR Slovenia. In 1992, he swam 105 kilometers along the Krka River, marking his first conquered river. A year later, he completed a 62 km swim along the Kolpa River in just 16 hours. In 2000, Strel set a record for the longest distance swim by covering 2,860 kilometers along the Danube River. He followed this with another 58-day swim covering 3,004 kilometers on the same river. In July 2001, Strel achieved another record by completing a continuous swim along the Danube, covering 504.5 km in 84 hours and 10 minutes.
Swimming the World's Rivers
After his accomplishments on the Danube, Strel embarked on a swim along the Mississippi River in 2002, covering a distance of 3,885 kilometers over 68 days. In June 2004, he conquered the Yangtze River, swimming 4,003 km in 40 days. The Amazon River became Strel's next challenge in 2007, where he became the first person to swim its entire length. This grueling 66-day journey covered a distance of 5,268 km, surpassing the width of the Atlantic Ocean. Despite facing constant attacks from piranhas and dangerous candiru fish, Strel emerged victorious.
Later Life and Legacy
Many expected Strel to conquer the Nile next, but he decided against it, considering it a mere stream compared to the Amazon. In 2011, he swam along the Colorado River as part of the documentary project "Stan Lee's Superhumans." Strel also became the subject of the award-winning documentary film "Big River Man," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. In 2011, he co-founded the company "Swimming Adventure Holidays" with his son Borut Strel, offering swimming tours in the Mediterranean and at Lake Powell, Arizona.
