Mexican open-water swimmer David Olvera has etched his name in the record books by completing the 48.5-kilometer swim around Manhattan Island in just 5 hours, 34 minutes, and 58 seconds, breaking the previous record by nearly seven minutes.
The 31-year-old from Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosí, conquered the challenging “20 Bridges” swim course on Thursday morning, according to New York Open Water, the nonprofit organization that managed the event.
Olvera’s impressive time surpassed the previous record set by British swimmer Andrew Donaldson in September 2024. While Guinness World Records has not yet officially ratified Olvera’s achievement, New York Open Water officials expect his record to be formally recognized.
Challenges of the Manhattan Island Swim
The Manhattan Island swim is considered one of the world’s most demanding urban open-water challenges. It requires swimmers to battle cold temperatures and strong currents while navigating under 20 bridges.
To prepare for this feat, Olvera’s training regimen included:
- 14-hour continuous swims in pools
- 10-hour sessions against currents in Mexico’s Huasteca Potosina region, known for its rivers and waterfalls
Milestones in Mexican Open-Water Swimming
This achievement marks another milestone for Mexican open-water swimming. Notably, Mexican swimmer Jaime Lomelín Gavaldón already holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest double circumnavigation of Manhattan Island, completed in 19 hours, 25 minutes in 2023 at the age of 60.
Olvera, who has over 15 years of experience as a high-performance swimmer, has already set his sights on his next challenge: swimming approximately 83 kilometers from Isla Mujeres to Cozumel.
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