Percorso:ANSA.it > News in English > News

Italian 55-year-old sets sea swimming world record

Doctor swam 250km from Tunisia to Sardinia in seven days

29 July, 18:32
Italian 55-year-old sets sea swimming world record

(ANSA) - Rome, July 29 - A 55-year-old Italian doctor set a new world record for swimming on the open sea Thursday when he completed a 250km crossing from Tunisia to Sardinia.

Giovanni Brancato swam 11 hours a day for seven days at an average rate of 54 strokes a minute to break his own previous mark of 145km for a 2008 crossing between Corsica and the Ligurian coast on the Italian mainland.

''It's a dream I've been cultivating for some time,'' Brancato told reporters after arriving at the seaside resort of Villasimius. ''I have to touch myself to believe it's true.''

The first person to greet Brancato was his 13-year-old daughter Margherita, who dived into the sea and swam out to him as he was coming into shore. ''He's a mad man, but that's part of the reason why we love him'' the girl said.

''He isn't always easy but thoroughbred champions never stop amazing you''. Brancato, who is from Messina in Sicily, said there are no secrets behind his ability to pull off such feats of endurance at such an advanced age.

''I don't have any magic recipes, just a simple, natural healthy diet,'' he said.

''When I'm swimming I have plenty of sips of almond milk, pear and pomegranate juice and tonic water as well as dark chocolate''.

He added that more adventures are in store. ''While I was finishing I was already thinking of my next endeavour,'' he said.

''I've an idea for a sea-land-sea one, but I'll talk about it when I've taken this in. The taste of success is like a drug, it makes me want more''.

photo: Sardinian seaside resort Villasimius.

Top News

    • 22:55
    • 08 set
    • NEW YORK

    Cambi: euro a 1,2718 dollari

    Moneta Usa scambiata a 83,899 yen
    • 22:52
    • 08 set
    • NEW YORK

    Borsa: Wall Street positiva, Dj +0,45%

    Positivo anche lo S&P 500 +0,64%
    • 22:26
    • 08 set
    • TERNI

    Cgil: grave disdetta contratto tute blu

    Vicesegretario Cgil condanna aggressione a Bonanni
    • 22:18
    • 08 set
    • ROMA

    Opposizione: alleanze ancora lontane

    Casini, sfiducia? Elementare Watson. Idv, si' a governo tecnico
    • 21:24
    • 08 set
    • TRIESTE

    Si dimette presidente consiglio FVG

    Ballaman lascia dopo accertamenti su uso auto blu
    • 21:15
    • 08 set
    • ROMA

    Fed: rallenta la crescita Usa

    Beige Book,manifatture ok ma crescita raffreddata. Piu' consumi.
    • 20:53
    • 08 set
    • ROMA

    Tg1: Minzoli,rispetto sempre istituzioni

    Ma si possonodare valutazioni sulla situazione politica
    • 20:48
    • 08 set
    • POLICORO (MATERA)

    Donna morta parto: a CC cartella clinica

    Marito, me l'hanno ammazzata. Avvocato, e' malasanita'
    • 20:09
    • 08 set
    • ROMA

    berlusconi: avanti per il bene del Paese

    Napolitano: ipotesi sfiducia? Non mi pronuncio
    • 19:50
    • 08 set
    • ISLAMABAD

    Pakistan: Times Square, tre arresti

    'Provati legami' con il reo confesso Faisal Shahzad