site.btaTsanko Tsankov Prepares to Set Record for 100 Km Danube Swim

World marathon swimming champion Tsanko Tsankov is preparing to do an unprecedented 100 km swim of the Danube, non-stop, on September 6. Just before a practice in the Danube near the Baba Vida Fortress in Vidin, he thanked all institutions and people who have supported him in recent weeks. "That will be a success for Bulgaria," he said.

The starting point for the swim will be at Bononia Estate near Koshava and the finishing point will be at the Radetzky ship at Kozloduy. Tsankov will be in the water for close to 12 hours, trying to set a record. He does not expect strong currents because the level of the Danube has dropped significantly in the recent weeks.

He will be swimming alone. He told reporters that at some point there was an idea for local swimmers to accompany him for short stretches but the idea was dropped for security considerations and because he is planning to keep a fast pace.

The swim will take place according to the rules of the World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA) and will be administered by this organization, said the swimmer's agency, Iliev Sport Agency. They also said he will be wearing knee-length textile trunks; will be swimming non-stop and won't touch solid objects.

The event is organized by the Pobeda sports club with support from the town halls in Vidin and Kozloduy, and the Sport in Bulgaria Foundation, which has partnered with Tsankov in recent years.

The swim is expected to attract scores of spectators on the riverbank along the route. 

The start and the finish will be livestreamed according to the WOWSA rules, and GPS will track the coordinates of the boat so that anyone can watch the swim.

The finish is expected around 8 pm on the same day. The municipal authority has arranged a welcome ceremony for Tsankov. Romania's Ambassador Brandusa Ioana Predescu will be one of the official guests. Tsankov has received supporting letters from the Austrian and Hungarian embassies. A TV and photography team will film the entire swim and a documentary will be made.