Australian endurance athlete John Van Wisse may abandon Loch Ness world record swim attempt after monster setback
An Australian endurance athlete looks set to abandon his current attempt to break the world record for swimming the length of Loch Ness.
Internationally-renowned John Van Wisse, suffering the ill-effects of a virus, had to abort Saturday’s much-anticipated attempt to beat the record best of nine hours, 25 minutes and 37 seconds, set 29 years ago by Rachel Godburn.
He launched into the challenge, heading into the cold water from the southern shores at Fort Augustus, but made it only 4.3 kilometres and an hour and 26 minutes into the 36.3 kilometre (25.6 mile) challenge.
The symptoms of illness, coupled with poor overhead conditions and the infamous sheer cold of the loch got the better of him on the day.
Well-known local former footballer Jim Oliver served as the athlete’s driver.
Under the organisers’ rules, Van Wisse was scheduled to make the record attempt between August 16 and 24.
He is holding out with a glimmer of hope that he can have a second crack at it in the next few days.
Van Wisse said: “I’m on antibiotics now and I’m hoping they will take effect quickly. I’m going to try a 10-minute test swim later, but I still feel terrible.
“I’m short of breath and suffering headaches, along with other symptoms.
“There’s a small chance it could still happen if I can get myself in the right shape in the next day or two.
“I love it here and the Highlands and can’t thank all of the people who have given us such a warm welcome, including our driver Jim Oliver who has been immense.
“If it doesn’t come off for us in the next couple of days, I really hope I can come back for another attempt next year.”
Wisse has established a formidable reputation for his exploits on land and sea, winning championships and breaking records all over the world over the past three decades.
His crowning moment was a 483 km (300 mi) record-breaking Arch 2 Arc ultra-triathlon in August 2014, taking him from London to Paris.