Dr. Mariam Saleh Binladen, Andy Donaldson, Fatema Al Mahmeed, and Abdulla Attiya Complete 170 km Swim Around Bahrain

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The disparate relay team of Dr. Mariam Saleh Binladen (@mariamsalehbinladen) of Saudi Arabia, Andy Donaldson (Scotland, 34, MSF bio here, @andy.swimming), 2016 Olympian Fatema Al Mahmeed (26, Bahrain, World Aquatic bio here), and Red Bull professional triathlete Abdulla Attiya (26, Bahrain) completed their unprecedented 170 km circumnavigation swim of Bahrain today.

They dealt with all kinds of tides and currents in 24°C water over 59 hours 59 minutes 6.52 seconds.

Although the plan was to continue to rotate through 3-hour individual legs, the conditions proved too difficult and Oceans Seven swimmer Andy Donaldson had to jump in several times and complete the others’ 3-hour legs or swim through oncoming currents up to 2 knots per hour.

Their support crew included the Bahraini Coast Guard and handlers Jay Prchal, Eric Watson, and Volodymyr Tkachenko while the swimmers are dealing with a variety of marine life including sea snakes.