Icelander Will Attempt Swimming English Channel – And Back

One man hopes to be the first Icelander to swim across the English Channel and back again.

RÚV reports that Ásgeir Elíasson set off swimming from Dover, England at about midnight last night. At the time reporters reached him, at about 9:00 this morning, he had already progressed 26 kilometres.

It was originally forecast that it would take him about 11 hours to reach France, but that estimate has since changed. Ásgeir’s assistant, Benedikt Hjartarson, told reporters that the seas are rough but Ásgeir is in good spirits.

Ásgeir, 52, is an experienced runner and triathlete. If his attempt is successful, he will be the first Icelander to swim across the English Channel and back again. Earlier this month, Sigríður Þuríður Geirsdóttir became the first Icelandic woman to cross the Channel, a feat she accomplished in 23 hours and 30 minutes.