Guinness World Record holder Pablo Fernández Álvarez of Spain swam a total cumulative distance of 104.3 kilometers over a 24-hour period in an Endless Pool in Madrid this past April.
The 43-year-old Spanish swimmer and entrepreneur swam between 11:00:22 am on April 19th and 20th.
The entirety of Pablo’s swim, including hourly rest and feeding breaks, was recorded and livecast on YouTube (see above).
The swim was organized by Libertad Silva and Venus Aguillón and supported by observers Jorge Gómez, Emilio Carrasco, Pablo García, Daniel Olmos, and Juan Fran.
After the 24-hour Guinness World Record swim, Silva reported that Pablo was doing well as confirmed by a physician who checked his vital signs. “Surprisingly enough, he was at 77 heartbeats/minute like if he hadn’t been swimming for 24 hours.”
The Guinness World Record that Fernández set over a 24-hour period is a bit different that the Longest continuous swim in a counter-current pool record that has progressed significantly over the recent past:
- In February 2014, Chloë McCardel of Australia set the Longest continuous swim in a counter-current pool in 16 hours at the SPASA Victoria consumer Pool & Spa + Outdoor Living Expo in Australia.
- On 25-26 May 2018, Dennis T. Seiler-Holm of Denmark set the Longest continuous swim in a counter-current pool in 17 hours 7 minutes 1.82 seconds in a Swim Spa in Denform Expo in Aarhus, Denmark.
- On 5-6 October 2019, Yuko Matsuzaki of Japan set a Guinness World Record for the Longest continuous swim in a counter-current pool conducted in an Endless Pool in Seaside Lagoon, Redondo Beach, California after swimming 24 hours 1 minute from 8:00 am on 5 October to 8:01 am on 6 October 2019. Her support team included Chris Morgan, Chieko Smith, Shelley Taylor-Smith, Steven Munatones, Josef Köberl, Mark Lutz, Steve Stumpfrock and Kaori Rogers. Her pace ranged from 1:55 per 100 meters swimming freestyle to 3:22 per 100 meters swimming breaststroke.
- On 6-7 May 2020, Pablo Fernández Álvarez of Spain set a Guinness World Record for the Longest continuous swim in a counter-current pool conducted in an Endless Pool in Madrid, Spain after swimming 25 hours from 9:00 am on 6 May to 10:00 am on 7 May 2020.
- Alberto Lorente of Viladecans, Spain set a record for the Longest continuous swim in a counter-current pool after swimming 30 consecutive hours from 11.00 am on 27 June to 5:00 pm on 28 June 2020.
- Mayra Santos of Brazil/Portugal set a world record for the Longest continuous swim in a counter-current pool in Caniço, Madeira Island, Portugal from 10:00 am on 5 November 2020 to 5:07 pm on 6 November 2020, a total of 31 hours 7 minutes.
- Maarten van der Weijden of the Netherlands set a world record of 32 hours 20 minutes 50 seconds for the Longest continuous swim in a counter-current pool in Eindhoven, Netherlands swimming from 9:00 am on 20 November to 5:20 pm on 21 November 2021.
- In November 2021, the Longest continuous swim in a counter-current pool was set in 35 hours 20 minutes 50 seconds.
- On 30-31 January 2022, Pablo Fernández Álvarez of Spain set a Guinness World Record for the Longest continuous swim in a counter-current pool conducted in an Endless Pool in Clicars, Madrid, Spain after swimming 36 hours 0 minutes 19 seconds
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