News

US record holder Peter Jurzynski is retiring from Channel swimming but is positive and happy upon reflection after yesterday's unsuccessful attempt.

Ronald Reagan was US President and Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister, big red post office telephone boxes were all around Folkestone, a coffee shop was rare but a tea shoppe was not.

This was the time when American Peter Jurzynski first became involved in Channel swimming after coming to Hawkinge to see Ray and Audrey Scott.

The couple were the heads of the Channel swimming group and during that era Peter fell in love with Folkestone and Channel swimming.

Peter Jurzynski made his 20th and final attempt, the 2nd since his 2008 open heart surgery, to swim to France on Tuesday July 20 2010

"I trained hard this year--yet after establishing myself with a heart healthy, low fat, diet I am a lean, fit and healthy person, but it really makes adjusting to cold water of 15C to 16C for many hours very difficult.

"On Tuesday I swam steadily, strong and fast and getting about a quarter to a third the way across. It was then I felt the cold setting in.

"Although it was 4 hours 25 minutes into the swim and I could likely do another 4 hours, I knew I would not be able to complete a 16 or 17 hour crossing so I took the decision to voluntarily end the attempt.

"The irony is that being strict with my diet and weight, I am likely the fittest that I have been in my life yet this is not the ingredient for success when body fat is absent.

" I have decided this year I would retire from solo channel swims, however I will continue my involvement with long stays in Folkestone for years to come.

"I wish to thank the nice people of Hawkinge, Folkestone and the whole area who have been so supportive to me in all my swims, successes and failures.

"Folkestone is really my other hometown"

Peter Jurzynski has swum the channel more times than any other American with 14 successful crossings from a total of 20 attempts.

© Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2010