One of the most remarkable stage swims in history was performed by International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer Veljko Rogošić, a two-time Olympic swimmer, in 2005.

He was reported to have swum nearly 1,000 km along the Adriatic Sea coastline of his native Croatia. He started in Savudrija in northern Croatia [shown on left above] on July 2nd and finished at Pt Oštra, Prevlaka [shown on right below] in southern Croatia on August 27th. It was said that he swam 4 hours per day.

This pace and distance equates to an average of 17.54 km swum every day for 56 consecutive days by the 64-year-old marathon swimming legend.

For more information, there are two reports posted here and here (NOSTALGIJA 37: Veljko Rogošić u Pločama 2005. godine, etapni plivački maraton Savudrija-Prevlak). According to the English translation of the article written by Jurica Vukojević, “…Rogošić connected the north and south of the Croatian Adriatic through 56 stages. He arrived in our city, on Putnička obla, on August 16 as part of the 45th stage Gradac-Ploče. According to the plan, he left Gradac at 1:30 p.m. because it was thought that due to sea currents, it would take him five hours to reach Ploče. In agreement with the marathon organizer, the reception in Ploče is planned at 6:30 p.m. However, the Kastelan dolphin justified that nickname in its full meaning, either there were no usual currents or it simply didn’t bother him, so he swam to the entrance to the waters of Pločan an hour and a half before the scheduled time. And there was no other choice, in order not to disturb the already agreed upon arrival itinerary (6:30 p.m.), but to wait and float for 90 minutes there within reach of the finish line of this stage.

And that is Veljko Rogošić.

And at the very entrance to our bay, a magnificent welcome, many people from Pločan and Neretvan on the Putnička coast, Rogošić was escorted to the finish line by water polo players from Rogotin and six boat crews from the area of ​​our town [see photo below]. People from Rogošić’s entourage said at the time that there had never been a more beautiful and magnificent welcome throughout all the previous stages.”

A book was written about his achievement: Savudrija – Prevlaka Tiscucu Kilometara Jadrana 1000 Kilometers Along The Adriatic Sea.

© Daily News of Open Water Swimming

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