In 1993, International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer Mohamed Marouf set the still-standing record at the 26.4 km International Self-Transcendence Marathon-Schwimmen in Lake Zurich, Switzerland. 30 years after his famed swim, Marouf’s record of 5 hours 51 minutes remains unbroken.
French Canadian Xavier Desharnais won the most unusual 32 km Traversée Internationale du Lac St-Jean. In the 2014, he tied for first in the 60th annual race with Tomi Stefanovski [shown below on the right] when they finished first, tied in 7 hours 9 minutes 8 seconds.
Marouf and Desharnais talked with IMSHOF Chairperson Ned Denison about
- their careers
- their dreams
- their tough preparations
- Desharnais’ prolific career on the professional marathon swimming circuit between 2008 and 2018
- drafting off Petar Stoychev in races
- rebounding from an Olympic disappointment
- racing against Trent Grimsey and Damián Blaum,
- waiting for 90 minutes to learn the outcome of the 2014 Traversée Internationale du Lac St-Jean that Desharnais described in detail [see photo below; results posted here, a video of the dramatic finish is here]
- a brilliant tactical move by Marouf in Desharnais’ escort boat during the 2015 Traversée Internationale du Lac St-Jean race where he caught Philippe Guertin with 1.5 km to go and ultimately won in 7:20:41 over Guertin’s 7:21:59 [results posted here]
The sportsmanship and mutual respect demonstrated between Desharnais and Stefanovski after their tie in the 32 km Traversée Internationale du Lac St-Jean is a credit to both men and to the sport of professional marathon swimming.
What made Desharnais’ two victories at the Traversée Internationale du Lac St-Jean so special is that he is a Québécois, born, raised, and trained in nearby Sherbrooke, Québec.
Enjoy the fascinating conversation:
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