2008 Olympic gold medalist in the 10km marathon swim Maarten van der Weijden has improved upon the old World Record for distance swum in a 25m pool in 24 hours.

The 36-year old Dutchman swam 102.8km (63.8 miles) in 24 hours – that comes after last year, where a 99.5km (61.8 miles) effort came up just short of the record.

The old record was set in 1989 by Swede Anders Forvass of Sweden when he raced 101.9km (63.3 miles). Van der Weijden’s record has not been officially ratified by Guinness yet.

As incredible as the swim was, it was just the beginning for van der Weijden. After a short break to do some interviews and have some food, he continued on for another 12 hour swim – all in preparation for a planned 200km swim along side the track of the Elfstedentocht – a speedskating marathon in the province of Friesland.

His 200km swim is a fundraiser for cancer research. Van der Weijden, himself a survivor of leukemia, will allow the public to swim with him for a period of time during his swim for 11 euros.

For those wondering, swimming 102.8km in 24 hours is the same as holding an average pace of 1:24.05 (with rounding). </s> LONDON — A 33-year-old British endurance athlete stepped ashore on an English beach Sunday, becoming the first person to swim around the coast of Great Britain.

Ross Edgley spent 157 days in the water and covered 1,791 miles (2,883 kilometers). He swam in six-hour stints, sleeping in his support boat.

He was joined for the final mile by hundreds of fellow swimmers, coming ashore at Margate in southeast England — the spot where he began his journey on June 1.

Edgley, who had hoped to finish in 100 days, told family members who gathered on the beach to greet him: “Sorry I’m late.”

He said his main feeling on walking up the beach was “relief. I was really worried that my legs would give way.”

The World Open Water Swimming Association says Edgley endured spells of wild weather and was stung by jellyfish 37 times during his swim, which was sponsored by the energy drink Red Bull.

Organizers said Edgley also broke records for the longest staged sea swim – doubling the previous 73 days – and for the fastest swim between Britain’s southernmost and northernmost points, Land’s End and John O’Groats.

He covered the distance in 62 days. </s> JAKARTA, Aug 21 — China’s Liu Xiang set a new world record in the women’s 50 metres backstroke at the Asian Games today.

The 21-year-old clocked a time of 26.98 seconds — the first time a female swimmer has broken 27 seconds for the event — to take gold in Jakarta.

Liu, nicknamed “Swimming Goddess”, finished well ahead of team-mate Fu Yuanhui’s 27.68 and Japan’s Natsumi Sakai in 27.91 on the third evening of competition.

She claims the record held for nine years by fellow Chinese Jing Zhao, who clocked 27.06 at the 2009 world championships in Rome. — AFP </s> JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Liu Xiang of China has set a world record time of 26.98 seconds to win the women's 50-meter backstroke gold medal at the Asian Games.

Liu has become the first woman to swim under 27 seconds in the event, breaking the mark of 27.06 set by fellow Chinese swimmer Zhao Jing at the 2009 world championships in Rome.

Fu Yuanhui took silver in 27.68 in a 1-2 finish for China and Natsumi Sakai of Japan took bronze in 27.91. </s> China's Liu Xiang has surprised even herself after swimming a world record time to win the women's 50 metres backstroke at the Asian Games, storming home in 26.98 seconds to claim her first major title.

The 21-year-old's time on Tuesday bettered the 27.06 seconds which her compatriot Zhao Jing swam in a bodysuit at the Rome world championships in 2009.

It was the first world record to fall in the Asian Games pool since Japan's Kosuke Kitajima improved the 200m breaststroke mark in Busan in 2002.

"I didn't see the result I only heard the words 'world record', I couldn't believe it!," Liu told reporters at the Jakarta pool.

"It was like a dream. I did not expect to do that! It's not even my favourite event." </s> Grantham’s very own strongman Ross Edgley has become the first swimmer to swim around Great Britain after spending 23 weeks at sea.

The 33-year-old from Grantham crossed the finish line off the coast of Margate, Kent - in the same spot he set off from five months ago - just before 9am this morning, after swimming 1,792 miles - the equivalent of swimming The Channel 85 times.

He was joined by 300 swimmers including Dale Nix and Paul Letchworth from Grantham, for his final mile.

Ross left Margate on June 1 and has not set foot on land since.

He has battled against strong tides, storms and endured 37 jellyfish stings, eventually growing a beard to prevent more stings. He has also eaten more than 600 bananas and used three kilograms of Vaseline for chaffing.

Not content with just breaking one record, Ross entered the Guinness Book of World Records on August 14 when he became the first British person to swim the length of Great Britain, completing the 900 mile distance from Lands’ End to John O’Groats in a record time of 62 days.

Despite swimming for up to 12 hours a day, Ross was happy to speak to the Journal from his boat in September.

He said: “The support from the Grantham contingent has been phenomenal. When you look at where everyone is watching from on social media, there is people from all over the world, but Grantham is always there."

We will have more details including an interview with the man himself over the next few days and in Friday's Grantham Journal. </s> Adventurer Ross Edgley first to swim around Britain

(BBC) — An adventurer from Grantham has become the first person to swim 1,780-miles around Great Britain.

Ross Edgley, 33, was joined by 300 swimmers for the last mile before he arrived in Margate at about 09:00 GMT.

Edgley left the Kent town on 1 June, and has not set foot on land since, swimming for up to 12 hours a day and eating more than 500 bananas.

He has battled strong tides and currents in cold water, braved storms, jellyfish and swimming in late autumn.

The effort has taken its toll on his body, resulting in shoulder pain, wetsuit chafing and his tongue has partially disintegrated from salt water exposure.

Back on dry land, Edgley told the BBC that despite needing to learn to walk again after so long in the water he is still “not quite bored of swimming” and looking for his next challenge.

Supported in his swim by Cornish sailor Matthew Knight from his catamaran Hecate, Edgley revealed that at times the tides helped him to swim at speeds of up to 8.7 knots.

The swimmer held back tears as scores of supporters who had turned out to greet him in Margate gave him a rousing cheer.

He said getting that kind of reception made it all worthwhile, adding: “There’s not many places you come in and people are asking you to sign bananas.”

Edgley set a new record 74 days into his challenge, for the longest staged sea swim, according to the World Open Water Swimming Association.

He is already in the Guinness Book of World Records after completing a rope climb the equivalent height of Mount Everest in 19 hours in April 2016.

That was two months after doing a marathon while pulling a car.

But an attempt in 2017 to swim the 24.8 miles between Martinique and St Lucia while pulling a 100lb tree trunk ended in disappointment. </s> A 99-year-old Australian swimmer appears to have smashed a world record for his age group in the 50m freestyle.

George Corones clocked 56.12 seconds at an official event in Queensland – a new benchmark for the 100-104 age category.

He eclipsed the previous mark, set in 2014, by 35 seconds. It will now be verified by the sport’s governing body.

Mr Corones, who is eligible for the record because he turns 100 in April, said he was “quite delighted” and “over the world” by the result.

“It was an exemplary swim for me, well balanced… and I was ready to hit the [wall] at the end very hard with my hand,” he told the BBC.

He said he had been overwhelmed by the “roaring” crowd on the Gold Coast on Wednesday. The event, in which he was the sole entrant, had been specifically staged for him to challenge the record.

“We have just witnessed history in the making!” the Australian Dolphins swim team said on its Facebook page.

‘It takes a while to get going’

Mr Corones, from Brisbane, said he was a keen swimmer in his youth but only began swimming again aged 80.

“I gave it up at the beginning of the war [World War Two], and I don’t think I had a swim of any description until I retired,” he said.

He said racing “undeniably” challenged him physically, but it was manageable with preparation. On average he swims laps three times a week, and also fits in gym sessions.

“At this age, it takes a while to get going… you get exhausted much more easily, but if you do it sensibly, the rewards are astronomical,” he said.

He attributed his success to his pacing and technique.

“My first dozen strokes were well balanced and the trick is to just carry it on progressively, putting a little bit of increasing effort in each stroke,” he said.

“I did that until the last 10m – I knew I was tired and done – but went on without any disturbance.”

The previous record of 1:31.19 was set by British swimmer John Harrison in 2014.

Mr Corones’s race took place just before the Australian Swimming Trials for the Commonwealth Games, which will begin on the Gold Coast next month.

Masters Swimming Australia said the record was pending official verification by the International Swimming Federation (Fina).

Mr Corones will challenge the 100m freestyle record on Saturday night, believing he can beat the current mark of 03:23.10, which was also set by Mr Harrison.

“I’m not a young man by any means, but I am really looking forward to it and confident I can do very well,” he said. </s> Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Ross Edgley said he had to swim hard against the tide to reach Margate, but it was amazing to hear the crowd

An adventurer from Grantham has become the first person to swim 1,780-miles around Great Britain.

Ross Edgley, 33, was joined by 300 swimmers for the last mile before he arrived in Margate at about 09:00 GMT.

Edgley left the Kent town on 1 June, and has not set foot on land since, swimming for up to 12 hours a day and eating more than 500 bananas.

He has battled strong tides and currents in cold water, braved storms, jellyfish and swimming in late autumn.

The effort has taken its toll on his body, resulting in shoulder pain, wetsuit chafing and his tongue has partially disintegrated from salt water exposure.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Ross Edgley has spent 155 days making the journey around the coast

Back on dry land, Edgley told the BBC that despite needing to learn to walk again after so long in the water he is still "not quite bored of swimming" and looking for his next challenge.

Supported in his swim by Cornish sailor Matthew Knight from his catamaran Hecate, Edgley revealed that at times the tides helped him to swim at speeds of up to 8.7 knots.

"That's a dolphin's cruising speed," he laughed.

The swimmer held back tears as scores of supporters who had turned out to greet him in Margate gave him a rousing cheer.

He said getting that kind of reception made it all worthwhile, adding: "There's not many places you come in and people are asking you to sign bananas."

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Scores of people turned out for Edgley's arrival in Margate - and many joined him in the water

Edgley set a new record 74 days into his challenge, for the longest staged sea swim, according to the World Open Water Swimming Association.

He is already in the Guinness Book of World Records after completing a rope climb the equivalent height of Mount Everest in 19 hours in April 2016.

That was two months after doing a marathon while pulling a car.

But an attempt in 2017 to swim the 24.8 miles between Martinique and St Lucia while pulling a 100lb tree trunk ended in disappointment.
The Dutch swimmer Maarten van der Weijden sets the 24-hour swimming record in a 25-meter pool at 102.8 kilometres (63.9 mi).