Adventure Swimmer Runs into First Problems
Slovenian adventure swimmer Martin Strel, who is attempting to swim the world's greatest river, the Amazon, encountered the first difficulties on Monday, his website says.
He was only able to put in 19 km of swimming because he was forced to wait for the larger of the accompanying boats, which broke down on Sunday, to be repaired and the crew to catch up with him and the smaller boat.
Attending a dinner with one of the local officials, Strel also had to dine barefoot because the boat that stayed behind is carrying most of the equipment, according to www.amazonswim.com.
Strel started his biggest adventure ever - setting a new long distance world record by swimming 5,430 kilometres of the Amazon - in Atalaya, Peru, on 1 February and is hoping to finish it in Belem, Brazil, on 11 April.
For his latest challenge, Strel upgraded his usual motto of "I swim for peace, friendship and clean water" with "I swim for preservation of life in rain forests".
As regards the humanitarian side, Strel also wants to raise awareness of Alzheimer disease and other neurological disorders, and promote telemedicine as a valuable tool in bringing modern medicine to remote areas.
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