Belgian athlete starts record swimming attempt in Lake Geneva

Belgian athlete and sports coach Marieke Blomme has at 7 am on Monday started her record attempt to swim the length of Lake Geneva in less than 22 hours. To succeed, she has to cover 73 km. With her stunt, she is supporting charity.

Blomme, from Torhout and living in Ghent, in 2021 already became the first woman to swim the entire Belgian coastline. She furthermore broke the existing record by covering the 67 km in 18 hours and 45 minutes, more than four hours faster than the previous record-holder – Belgian ultra-athlete Matthieu Bonne.

She is now attacking a new record. The athlete aims to swim across Lake Geneva in less than 22 hours. The current record stands at 22 hours and 42 minutes. She was originally scheduled to start her attempt at 4 pm on Sunday, but due to bad weather conditions, the start was postponed to Monday morning. Her performance can be followed via live tracking.

With her new record attempt, the athlete wants to support a good cause: the non-profit organisation Si Belle Mobilité, which facilitates winter sports for people with disabilities.

^{#FlandersNewsService | View of Lake Geneva © BELGA PHOTO GERAULT Gregory / hemis.fr / Hemis via AFP}