I admire the dedication of great athletes and I try – not with the results I would like – to emulate their exploits. I was barely recovering physically and mentally from participating and finishing the Cozumel Oceanman, in which I swam 10 kilometers, when I was literally shaken by the new great feat of Antonio Argüelles (for him I was convinced to try to participate in this discipline).
Open water swimmers expend great physical and mental effort to be able to swim great distances. A completely different discipline from that performed by swimmers in the pool. Open waters demand special talent and ability to deal with currents, proper orientation, resist seasickness, and have the stamina to swim for hours or even days.
Antonio Argüelles is out of series. A leader in every sense of the word and one of the great exponents of this discipline in our country and worldwide. Last week, he swam 91 kilometers in a time of 19 hours and 50 minutes, twice passing under the 20 bridges that connect to the island of Manhattan. Beyond the distance and time covered, the challenge means tremendous obstacles made up of the different currents that characterize the Hudson, East and Harlem rivers.
Can you imagine swimming 91 kilometers? Let’s put the distance in perspective. An Olympic pool is 50 meters long, a semi-Olympic pool is half that. The Olympic marathon is made up of a route of 42 kilometers and 195 meters. In an Olympic triathlon, you swim 1.5 kilometers, while in an Ironman, you swim 3.9 kilometers. Swimming 91 kilometers means swimming from the main square of Mexico City to the main square of the city of Pachuca, in the State of Hidalgo.
Antonio is 63 years old, in addition to being a swimmer, he is a family man, grandfather, businessman and altruist. His story on the open water continues to be written. Example of constancy, perseverance and discipline, in addition to taking his body to the goal, he has dragged several of us to try to be better day by day in the different facets in which we work. Congratulations Anthony.