Australian Chloe McCardell was forced to abandon her Cuba-to-Florida attempt in 2013, before Diana Nyad’s successful swim, after suffering a jellyfish sting.
So for her latest World Record endurance swim, McCardell swam in a bit of a more controlled environment
The Australian swam 16 hours straight in a “spa” (think Endless Pool) in Melbourne.
This challenge wasn’t nearly as long as the one done by Diana Nyad, but it provides a whole different type challenge.
For starters, McCardell couldn’t stop, or else the moving water would push her into the back of the spa, and nullify her attempt.
Secondly, the lack of a change of scneery was an extreme mental challenge. McCardell told local media that she counted strokes until 7,850, and then gave up on that.
So, ultimately, this wasn’t a great physical test, perhaps, and was more of a mental endurance challenge, but here’s what’s really exciting: in her post-swim interview with ABC, McCardell hinted at another upcoming swim: a 200km (120 mile) ocean swim.
That would be quite a thing to see if she comes through.
…and I thought it was boring when my coach had me do 8 X 1000 meters, alternating swim / pull on 2:00 rest.