Article by Laura Şoica – published on Saturday, 09 August 2025, 16:22 / Updated on Saturday, 09 August 2025 16:30
The Romanian Avram Iancu became the first man to swim 4,48 kilometers, from the North Sea to the Black Sea, without a neoprene suit.
It swam for 40 days, through the Main Canal and Rin and Danube rivers. After achieving this performance, Avram Iancu posted a message on the social networks about the whole process he went through.
Avram Iancu: “I became the first man in the world to cross a swimming continent”
“I arrived at the final destination! Today, at 6:25 pm, after 40 days of swimming, I reached the final destination: the confluence of the Main -Danube channel with the great River Danube.
I managed to cross the whole of Europe swim! No neoprene suit. In the world premiere: from the North Sea to the Black Sea.
Thus, I became the first man in the world to cross a swimming continent, following the famous Rin -Main -Danube river route.
After ratifying this last stage, I have the chance to get the distinction The World's First Triple Crown of Rivers Stage Swims Challenge.
That means: 4,448 km without neoprene:
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Danube – 2,860 km, 89 days (2017) – ratified
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Rhine – 1,032 km, 48 days (2023) – ratified
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Main -Dunăă channel – 556 km, 40 days (2025) – in ratification
In total: 177 days, that is 6 months – half a year of continuous swimming. Half a year away from family, my wife and little girls. And that, in just 3 years of career!
And if I look further, at the 11 years of swimming in the open waters of the world, I am afraid to make a calculation of the total time spent away from them. With tears in my eyes, I want to apologize to my girls for all these absences from their childhood. But I know they understand, maybe better than anyone, the sacrifices I had to do. And why.
Beyond sports performance, I have always wore a message in which I thought. This time, I swam for a united Europe ”, was the posting of Avram Iancu.
He ended by thanking those who helped him in this process:
“I conclude this short post (I will come back tomorrow and tomorrow with details, photos and filming) with thanks:
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To the nearly 100 people who expected me at the end (come back with photo and video)
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To everyone in Germany who received us in their homes
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To the Romanian and German press that reported my effort
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The wonderful team on the boat: Ulise Galu and Radu Ileană
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The 64 thousand fans followers of my Facebook page.
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Hundreds of supporters on the banks of the hand
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To my extraordinary sponsors ”
