IV 
107TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 529 
Congratulating Martin Strel of the Republic of Slovenia for his historic 
athletic achievement as the first person to swim the length of the Mis-
sissippi River. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 17, 2002 
Mr. OBERSTAR submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on International Relations 
RESOLUTION 
Congratulating Martin Strel of the Republic of Slovenia for 
his historic athletic achievement as the first person to 
swim the length of the Mississippi River. 
Whereas Martin Strel of Mokronog, Republic of Slovenia, has 
distinguished himself as a marathon swimmer and holds 
several world records for long-distance swimming; 
Whereas Martin Strel established a new long-distance world 
record for swimming the length of the Danube River 
(1,878 miles, 3004 km) over 58 days in 2000; 
Whereas Martin Strel established a new world record of unin-
terrupted swimming in 2001 with a swim of 84 hours, 10 
minutes that covered 312 miles, 504 km; 
Whereas President Milan Kucan, President of the Republic of 
Slovenia, presented Martin Strel with the Badge of 
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•HRES 529 IH 
Honor of the Republic of Slovenia on October 24, 2001, 
for his athletic achievements and for contributions to the 
promotion of Slovenia; 
Whereas Martin Strel announced that he would attempt to 
establish a new long-distance swim record by swimming 
the length of the Mississippi River (2360 miles, 3797 
km); 
Whereas Martin Strel announced that his swim of the Mis-
sissippi River would be called the Eye-to-Eye Project that 
represents Mr. Strel’s personal battle against the Mis-
sissippi River, but also represents Slovenia’s friendship 
with the United States; 
Whereas Martin Strel of Slovenia began his swim of the Mis-
sissippi River at the headwaters of Lake Itasca in Min-
nesota on July 4, 2002; 
Whereas Martin Strel averaged 11–12 hours a day swimming 
the Mississippi River and covered nearly 35 miles a day 
as he swam through the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, 
Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, 
Mississippi, and Louisiana; 
Whereas Martin Strel endured considerable hardships during 
his historic swim, including a lightning strike that nearly 
hit him near Cape Girardeau, Missouri, a whirlpool that 
nearly pulled him under near Greenville, Mississippi, and 
dangerous boat traffic that he encountered in Louisiana; 
Whereas Martin Strel completed his remarkable journey in 
68 days and reached the delta of the Mississippi River in 
Louisiana at 11:35 a.m. on September 9, 2002; 
Whereas Martin Strel has dedicated himself to swim for 
peace, friendship, and clean waters, and he dedicated his 
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•HRES 529 IH 
swim of the Mississippi River to honor the innocent vic-
tims and heroes of September 11, 2001; 
Whereas Martin Strel’s swim coincided with the ten-year an-
niversary of the United States recognition of Slovenia as 
an independent nation on September 7, 1992; 
Whereas Martin Strel was assisted in this swimming endeav-
or by an impressive team led by Jelko Kacin, the Presi-
dent of the Eye-to-Eye Project Organizing Committee, as 
well as Martin Strel’s son, Borut Strel, and American 
volunteers Guy Haglund, Byron Curtis, David Hale, and 
Matt Mohlke; and 
Whereas the Eye-to-Eye Project represents the best of the 
human spirit to promote the outstanding relationship and 
friendship between the United States and Slovenia: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) congratulates Martin Strel of Slovenia for 
his historic athletic achievement as the first person 
to swim the length of the Mississippi River; 
(2) recognizes Martin Strel for his courage, de-
termination, and pioneering spirit as he succeeded in 
this great human endeavor; 
(3) commends Martin Strel for dedicating his 
swim to honor the victims and heroes of September 
11, 2001; and 
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•HRES 529 IH 
(4) recognizes that the Eye-to-Eye Project has 
served as an excellent opportunity to promote the 
friendship between the United States and Slovenia. 
Æ 
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