Avram Iancu (49, Romania, MSF bio here, @avramiancu) has started his 530 km Triple Crown of River Stage Swims in the Rhine River. His plan is to swim from the North Sea to the Black Sea eventually reaching the Main River and swimming along the Danube River through the heart of continental Europe.
He posted, “Contrary to appearances and general opinion, you probably imagined that I went into the water stronger than ever. Well… it’s not like that at all. On the contrary. I came in exhausted after a month full of challenges and problems to solve. On top of all this, the long drive to Germany and a short, restless sleep was added.
But in the end … the long-awaited moment has come: to go in the water and completely detach myself from everything about the world from the surface and let myself be carried away by the sublime embrace of the water.
Besides the water, the sun also hugged me…it was way too hot. After 10 km swimming, I went out to the shore for the intermediate break and retreated to the forest, in the thick shade of the trees, where I lay for about an hour and a half, to recover.
I got into the water once more and swam another 3 km. Today’s total was 13 km traveled on the first day.
He describes his goals, “I could become the first person in history to swim across a continent on a river route from sea to sea. My message is Swimming for a United Europe. Our event is held within the international political context. I want Romania to be heard throughout Europe and the world. The only longing of my life is to see my nation happy; I want to see my nation achieving total consensus, at least once in a while, when history imposes it.
I am decorated with the National Order Star of Romania in the rank of a Knight, this swim is a special way that I can promote Romania in the world by connecting the two seas between which we all live. I’ll make small waves, but only together can we make these waves go far.”
His support crew is lead by escort boat pilot Ulise Galu and observer Radu Ileanǎ.
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