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Ollie Wilkinson flies out to US ahead of Pacific challenge

Author: Roger Jackson, Posted: Friday, 4th August 2017, 09:00

Ollie Wilkinson

Marathon swimmer Ollie Wilkinson flies out to the US ahead of his Pacific Ocean challenge later this month.

The Prestbury vet is hoping to cross the 20-mile Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to Los Angeles on 14th August, a crossing he will be making at night.

If successful the 42-year-old will complete a ‘triple crown’ of marathon swims that also include the English Channel and swimming around Manhattan Island.

He has crossed the English Channel twice before while his New York swim in 2011 remains a world record with no one bettering his time of five hours, 44 minutes and two seconds for the 28.5-mile course.

His wife Vickie, who will be in the support boat when Ollie attempts his Pacific challenge, said: “All of the final swim preparations have gone well.”

Speaking to The Local Answer in the build-up, Ollie said, “The water’s much calmer at night. I’ll start at about 11pm and hopefully finish in the early hours around 7 or 8am.”

“It’s a non-wetsuit swim so I’ll just be wearing a pair of speedos, a hat with a flashing light and a pair of goggles!”

Ollie writes a regular Pet Care column for The Local Answer.

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Ollie Wilkinson flies out to US ahead of Pacific challenge

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