Hector Pardoe completes record swim of Lake Como
Two-time British Olympian, Hector Pardoe, has swum the entire 47.54km length of Lake Como, in a new Record time of 10 hours 41 minutes, knocking over 9 hours off the previously held record set back in 2016.
The record was previously held by three-time Guinness World Record Holder Ultra-marathon swimmer, Jaimie Monahan, who completed the swim in 20 hours 26 minutes.
Swimming the full length of the lake from Como FC’s Stadium to Gera Lario, in air temperatures approaching 37 degrees and water temperatures rising above 27,
Hector achieved this incredible feat having burnt over 9000 calories and expiring over 11 litres of sweat.
Hector was supported throughout his swim, by a medical team monitoring and recording every aspect of his nutrition, heart rate and physiology.
He was also accompanied by a film crew recording every one of his incredible 35,000 strokes, for a follow up documentary to his hugely successful YouTube short film “King of the Lakes”, which has to date been viewed by nearly 1 million people.
Having completed this new record swim Hector commented: “At times during the swim, I really had to push through the exhaustion, pain, heat, humidity and waves. There were moments when I genuinely questioned why I’d signed up for this swim. Moments where everything in my body was telling me to stop. But giving up was never going to be an option. I can fully understand why so few people have ever previously attempted, let alone completed this iconic swim.
I’ve always dreamt of swimming Como. In my eyes it is the crown jewels of inland open water swimming – perhaps equivalent within swimming circles to the Monaco Grand Prix. Its’ backdrops are stunning and it is after all home to George Clooney and Nespresso ads.
Two years out from the Los Angeles Olympics, where my goal is to win an Olympic medal, this felt like the perfect opportunity to do something that I will remember forever.
In years to come, when I look back on my career, I want to be able to remember moments like winning my medal at the World Championships in Doha; racing at the Paris Olympics; and winning the BBC Green Sports Award for Athlete of the Year. Swimming the length of Italy’s most famous lake will be right up there.
Over the last decade Italy has been such a huge part of my life. I’ve regularly trained in Lake Orta, so much so that it’s become like a second home. I love the people, the culture, the architecture and of course the great vegetarian food.
I have very fond memories of turning up with my family, as a kid of 15, for our first lakeside holiday and swimming for several hours back and forth across the lake with my dad accompanying me in a Kayak. I think it was my dad who got tired first and wanted to call it a day. Our neighbours couldn’t believe what they were witnessing. One of them Antonio Albanese, who it turned out was a famous Italian actor and comedian, still cracks jokes about that day.
Growing up, my idol was the great Italian distance swimmer Gregorio Paltrinieri. I watched him win Olympic gold in Rio and dreamt of one day racing against him. Eight years later we stood on the same Olympic starting pontoon in Paris and even swapped swimming caps afterwards. That was a surreal moment.
Swimming Como wasn’t just another swim. It was my way of celebrating a Country that has given me so much over the years. It was an honour and I hope that my new Record will stand for many years to come. And as an aside the water tasted fresh and clean”
Hectors new documentary film will be released on his YouTube channel in early September.
Outdoor Swimmer
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