News

Fourteen times successful American channel swimmer and unofficial Folkestonian Peter Jurzynski is arriving in the town for the 25th time next month.

 

Peter, who arrives on Thursday 11 June will be preparing for his 19th channel attempt and hopefully his 15 successful swim.

This marks Jurzynski's one-year anniversary of open-heart bypass surgery on 28 May 2008.

"I had some very brief dips into the Boston Harbour in April, but my first training swim this season was a 2 hour swim in a Connecticut lake this month," he said.

"Although the water was 65 degrees F, it was nearly 20 degrees cooler than my pool swimming, yet warmer than the 60 degree English Channel, in early July.

"I am pleased with training progress so far, but I take this business of channel swimming seriously and strongly feel that I need one month gradually adjusting to Channel temperatures and long distances."

Talking of his planned swim Peter said:  "My first possibility would be the neap tides 13-20 July, but it depends on numerous factors, the biggest one being wind."

Jurzynski who is 58 on 7 June continued:  "Starting 12 June I will begin with short swims and long talks with the nice people in the Folkestone and Hawkinge areas.

"I realize that my Channel attempts are only a very small part of my stays, I simply love being here."