Javier Gutierrez became the fourth Mexican and the 77th person overall to achieve the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming.
On Facebook, Gutierrez writes about his 11 hour 39 minute crossing of the Catalina Channel on Monday, “It has been one of the most difficult swims of my life. I swam the first 6 hours in a giant blender or washing machine, the water temperature was 65 degrees most of the way dropping to 60 the last hour or so. It is unfair that I receive all the credit though.
My onboard and land crew (Christelle Duparchy, Laura Rubio, Carola Busquier, Jose Gutierrez, Alejandro Gutierrez, Fernando Garcia Sotelo, Tom Reilly) together with John York, Kent Nicholas and the Outrider’s crew contributed to materialize this dream, kudos for them, they are what I call my INVISIBLE STROKE. Thanks from the bottom of my heart. I will never find the right words to express my gratitude.”
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