Croizon and team to begin swim challenge in Vanimo

By FRANKLIN KOLMA
THE “Swim beyond borders” team lead by quadruple amputee Philippe Croizon said their swimming challenge would begin here in the country with a swim from Wutung, West Sepik to Pasar Stow in Irian Jaya.
The challenge, also called “Swim beyond borders”, will see Croizon and partner swimmer Arnaud Chassery connect five continents in four swims that would see them battling swimming lengths of up to 25km and sea freezing temperatures.
The first swim will be from Vanimo (Oceania) to Irian Jaya (Asia) which has highlighted potential dangers which include jellyfishes and rip tides.
 The second swim will be from Spain (Europe) to Egypt (Africa) and would be the longest and most dangerous swim of more than 25km through shark infested waters.
The third will see the two men swim the full length of the Gibraltar Strait (Africa to Europe), a painful 20km.
The last swim will have the team swim the Bering Strait from Alaska (America) to Russia (Asia).
This will also be a super challenge as it will see the challengers swim eight to 10km in waters below zero degrees Celsius.
Croizon said at a media conference that he was looking forward to the swims but his only main concern was the possibility of meeting a shark.
A grim scenario that was made light by his normal limbed swimming companion who said:
“The sharks won’t get you, you’re half eaten.”
Croizon also mentioned that he was utterly impressed by the warmth of Papua New Guineans and said he was eager to see the country again.