Martin Strel- marathon swimmer

I though I'd share Martin Strel's story since Burt reminded me alot of him. He's too fat, too old, drinks too much and he never gives up.

Martin Strel (born 1. October 1954) is a Slovenian long-distance swimmer, best known for swimming the entire length of various rivers. Strel holds successive Guinness World Records for swimming.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBtpph37dAY&feature=related/

In 2002, he swam the entire Mississippi River (3,885 kilometres (2,414 mi)) in 68 days. In 2003, he swam the Argentine Paraná River (3,998 kilometres (2,484 mi)). On 10 June 2004, Martin started swimming down the Yangtze River (4,003 kilometres (2,487 mi), the longest river in Asia, the third longest in the world) in China. He reached Shanghai in 40 days on 30 July 2004, one day before planned.

At age 52 Strel swam the Amazon River, commencing on 1 February 2007, finishing 66 days later on April 7, 2007. This was a record-breaking distance of 5,268 kilometres (3,273 mi), longer than the width of the Atlantic Ocean. He had escort boats that poured blood into the river to distract meat-eating fish such as piranhas. "Big River Man" the title of the documentary showing his Amazon swim.