RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Swimming the almost 35 km that separate, in a straight line, Dover (England) from Calais (France). This was the next challenge of endurance swimmer Alan Viana, who could see his mission extend to 50 km due to the action of ocean currents. The window for which the Brazilian was enrolled was from July 9th to 20th, 2020.
After three years in training, Alan Viana would have made the crossing in July. However, earlier this week the Channel Swimming Association (the organization that manages the crossings between England and France) confirmed the cancellation of all events scheduled for June and July due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“The challenge, which was only mine at the beginning, became that of several other people who joined me in this dream. And I was confident that I was well prepared to complete the race,” laments the swimmer.
He had been preparing since 2017: “It is difficult for me and all the people helping me. I am slowly taking this in. But I also know that my pain is no greater than that of many other people around the world. It’s a time of many losses for millions of people in many countries”.
The Channel Swimming Association gave Alan the option to join a reservation list later this year, a waiting list for 2021, or rescheduling for 2022: “I don’t know what the point of all this is. But the project was a life goal. It’s going to be in 2021. The dates I was offered for this year are outside the optimal period for crossings. I don’t know yet if I will have the will and breath to continue swimming after this race. My wife and I want children. We have other plans. So, it was the end of a cycle, which we are now postponing for the near future”.
The focus was such that during training, the endurance swimmer completed four of the longest races in Brazil, the Crossing of Arvoredo Island (25 km), Amazon Challenge (30 km), Crossing from Leme to Pontal (34 km) and Crossing of Mel Island (45 km): “If I did not have the Channel left, I would already be done. This new crossing would have been the way to top everything I’ve accomplished”.
The cancellation came only this month. However, the uncertainties began in March, with the advent of the pandemic in Brazil: “I didn’t swim for two weeks. Then I spent a period of training in my parents’ pool with the help of equipment. Later I got a pool in a gym. But it was hard to keep the focus”.
“The organizers only advised me to keep on training, if possible. Then the pound rate increased, which was almost R$5 when I made the reservation. Then it was close to R$7. So, this project would have many troubles. And the coronavirus came to enhance them. I went through a daily mental fight to swim for three hours in the virtually empty gym. It’s not an easy situation to deal with. But I’m not giving up. I have to continue until this dream comes true.”
Source: Agência Brasil