SportsSwimming

U.K. swimmer’s journey down Yukon River not recognized as a record – yet

U.K. marathon swimmer Ross Edgley’s 510-kilometre swim down the Yukon River isn’t officially a record – at least not yet. 

According to the Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Edgley did the epic swim over approximately 2 ½ days between June 16 and 18. 

The non-stop swim lasted 54 hours and 45 minutes. 

According to the World Open Water Swimming Association’s (WOWSA) Tima Vlasto, “Ross Edgley’s Yukon River swim does not qualify as an official open water swimming record due to the use of a wetsuit.”

Clarification on Edgley’s swim from WOWSA can be found in a WOWSA blog at https://www.openwaterswimming.com/clarification-on-ross-edgleys-yukon-river-swim-not-an-official-open-water-swimming-record/ 

However, Edgley’s swim is pending ratification by Guinness World Records. 

According to Edgley, all the videos, witness statements, and co-ordinates are currently with Guinness World Records to ratify his swim as a world record. 

Guinness World Records currently lists Martin Strel as the record holder for the longest distance swimming non-stop. He swam 504.5 kilometres on the Danube River from Melk, Austria to Paks, Hungary on July 3-6, 2001 in 84 hours, 10 minutes. 

Contrary to what was reported in an earlier story in The Yukon Star, there were no Guinness World Records personnel on the expedition. 

Regarding the epic swim, Edgley told the Yukon Star in an email, “WHAT A SWIM! The Yukon is an INCREDIBLE part of the world. 

“Not just because I was able to swim past bears, moose and wolves, but the people are some of the kindest, bravest and most badass I’ve ever met. 

“Worth stressing is this swim wouldn’t have been possible without the heroics of the support team who live/work on the river and were able to navigate me safely past rapids, rocks, fallen trees and wildlife that (sometimes) wasn’t friendly.” 

Morris Prokop

Morris Prokop, Sports Editor, has held a variety of media jobs spanning a 23-year career.

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