Michael Rice breaks SCAR Swim Challenge men’s record

Marathon swimmer Michael Rice claimed the men’s SCAR Buckle at the 2021 SCAR Swim Challenge last week, after shattering the men’s record by 1 hour, 37 minutes.

Rice completed the 4-day lake stage swim in 13 hours, 20 minutes, breaking the previous record set by International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame chairperson, Ned Denison, in 2013.

The SCAR Swim Challenge is a 4-day, 66.9 km lake stage swim held at Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake in Arizona, USA, and is part the Triple Crown of Stage Swims.

The women’s Scar Buckle was awarded to 4-way English Channel swimmer, Sarah Thomas, who completed the challenge in 14 hours, 43 minutes.

After the event, race director Kent Nicholas said: “SCAR 2021 is in the books with a great turnout. Saguaro was stormy and challenging. Canyon proved to be chilly but beautiful as always. Apache had it’s coldest start but very favourable conditions with water being released from the start combined with a tailwind. Roosevelt was nothing short of a beautiful sunset and shooting stars. See you in 2022.”