‘IMPOSSIBLE’ CHANNEL SWIM
in a year (eight).
But a quadruple attempt, setting off from southern England, is taking ultra-marathon swimming to a whole new level, challenging mind and body like never before.
Her support team is billing it as “the greatest endurance challenge on the planet”.
“When I completed the triple, I was utterly exhausted, nauseous and hypothermic, with my swimming costume hanging off me because I’d burnt through so much body fat,” McCardel said yesterday.
“Getting through all that, then turning around to swim another crossing, will be absolute torture but I’m determined to do it.”
The swim is the equivalent of 2,720 laps of an Olympic pool, with the added challenges of extremely cold water, strong currents, wind and weather.
Despite this, McCardel is optimistic about her chances, and has been swimming 110 to 140km in training a week.
This has included extended swims in ocean water as cold as 8°C and 20-hour non-stop night swims in 15°C water, working at the same intensity as any Olympic athlete during their peak training.
“I am in the best shape of my career, injury-free and, I believe, physically and mentally prepared,” she said.
“I’ve reached all my goals. Now, it’s about pushing the boundaries of the sport and the human spirit.
“What can our body and mind achieve? Do we really know our potential? Maybe we can go further. I want to find out.
“If successful, this could dramatically alter the perception of what the human mind and body can achieve in such harsh, inhospitable conditions.” AFP