Marathon and strait swim-over are associated with great English poet – George BYRON (1788-1824). He swam over the Dardanelles from Amodosi to Sestor at night on May 3, 1810. What was his incentive? What was he aiming for? This is a separate topic for discussion. Important is that the Dardanelles is acknowledged as the beginning of the marathon swimming.

Later there was Captain Matheu WEB; also an Englishman. On August 24, 1875 he swam over the Lamanche strait (the shortest width 32km) in 21 hours and 45 minutes. It is important that this record kept for 59 years!

As for Georgia, the first marathon swimmer was Batumi resident, lifesaver and diver Memed BEDIA, who soon after Matheu Web swam from Batumi to Poti (59 km) without break. Unofficial record of lifesaver on water between 1873-1934 belongs to him as well, i.e. during his term - 61 years - as a lifesaver in Batumi port he managed to save 4016 lives from distress.   

According to the International Federation for Marathon Swimming, marathon swimming is still very popular. For example, twelve tournaments were planned for the year 2001; Among them four are 10 km long, two – 20km, and the rest 30, 32, 37, 57, 60 and 88 km distances.

Strait swim over is equally popular. For your information, the number of the Lamanche swim over has reached few hundreds. Moreover, there are people who have swum over the Lamanche non-stop both ways. According to the Guinness Book of Records a marathon swimmer has swum over this strait three times. Some can be distinguished with the total number of swim-over equaling eight.

The result of an Indian lawyer Mikhir SENIS (from Calcuta) is somewhat special. In 1966 he carried out marathon swimming for 26 hours; on April 5-6 he swam over the Halk Strait (from Sri-Lanka to India) in 25 hours and 36 seconds; on August 24 – over the Gibraltar in 8 hours and 1 minute; on September 12 he swam alongside the Dardanelles for 13 hours and 55 minutes. He swam for 4 hours in the Bosphor strait on September 21; on October 29-31 – alongside the Panam channel for 34 hours and 15 minutes. In total he covered 9000 km in water…

The international rules for swimming over strait are very strict. The swimmer has the right to apply desired cream to the body, wear desired bathing-suit, be equipped with special swimming cap and glasses. That is all, which is allowed for a swimmer for going underwater, crossing the strait in short or long while and touching the land of the other shore. The whole process should be described, taped and evaluated by the authorized commission.

Pay attention to the age: Byron was 22 at the time of his first marathon swimming; Matheu WEB was 27, Mikhir SENIS– 36. As for our compatriot Henry KUPRASHVILI, he managed to swim over the Dardanelles with his hands and feet bound still to the body at the age of 56 (13.09.46).