A New Yorker swam around Staten Island in the shortest possible time: he already holds 9 Guinness records
'05.10.2023'
Alina Prikhodko
New Yorker Chris Solarz officially broke the record for the fastest swim around Staten Island on August 5th. He covered the 58-kilometer distance in 14 hours 24 minutes, reports New York Post.
Chris Solarz broke the July record set by a 31-year-old Leslie Hamilton, for 6 minutes. The swimmer encountered rushing water in the shipping channels of New York Harbor, but overall he said the event was “uneventful.”
“Staten Island is where I competed in 40 swims and found a true sense of community in unexpected places, proving that an overlooked area is a gem waiting to be discovered,” Solarz, 45, said.
Psychological and physical preparation
He prepared for the swim in the water and on land with cardio and five-hour workouts in the pool. His endeavor was supported by a team, including mathematics teacher Captain Francis Larose, who created a mathematical model to calculate the swim time based on the height of the river and the speed of the current.
The swim became a test of mental strength for Solarz, as he had to learn to overcome difficult moments. “I pinned all my hopes and dreams on this day,” the record holder admitted. “The day itself is a holiday, but training is hard.”
On the subject: The swimmer completed a 30-day swim across the Hudson River covering 507 km
Solarz is now preparing for his next big adventure: completing the New York City Marathon on November 5, which will be his 22nd. According to his profile on the Beryl Elites website, Solarz has broken nine Guinness World Records. He has run marathons in all 50 states and on seven continents.
In 2019, the media wrote about his “crazy” 25-35 minute routes, in which he walked 50 blocks to work in Midtown. He ran back home to the Upper East Side through Central Park.
The pension fund consultant said at the time that when he woke up, he ran 16 to 19 kilometers through Central Park before heading to his office on 55th Street. He started going to work during the 2003 New York blackout. “If you take the subway, nine out of 25 days it takes XNUMX minutes,” he said. “But on this tenth day everything goes as usual.” If you stand on your own feet, there can be no mistakes.”
