Riccardo Galesso (@riccardo.galesso, IISA bio here), an Italian open water swimmer, swam between 10 – 12 hours per day for 5 days to complete an assisted 118 km stage swim around the island of Elba (Circumnavigazione a nuoto dell’isola d’Elba) to raise money and awareness for Make-A-Wish Italia in 2024.
Elba is located in Tuscany, Italy, 20 km from the coastal town of Piombino and is the largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago.
But his unprecedented swim almost did not happen.
He explained, “A few days before the start, those who were supposed to come with me [backed out]. I was left without a support team.”
After all his training, logistical planning, and preparations, he could have just quit.
But his friends stepped into the vacuum and decided to escort Galesso with only two days notice. Everything was organized quickly. He said, “I can’t thank them enough, this is the support anyone would want in their life, and I’m so blessed to have someone who genuinely wants to help me through these times.”
Galesso is one tough, hardened adventurer who does not quit in the face of adversary. Traits that we expect out of cold water swimmers. He competed in the 250m freestyle and the 4×50 mixed relay at the IISA 6th World Championship in Molveno, Italy.
For more videos from Galesso, visit @riccardogalesso.
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