A man swam across the distance between Greece and Italy in 31 hours and 50 minutes

Greek swimmer Spyros Chrysikopoulos covered 91.4 kilometers between the island of Othonoi, Greece’s westernmost point, and Santa Maria di Leuca in Italy’s Puglia region. The crossing took 31 hours and 50 minutes and is described as the first achievement of its kind.

The athlete swam for nearly a day and a half without stopping or sleeping in the open sea, facing strong waves and changing weather conditions. The performance was monitored by two referees and verified for the international organizations involved, including the Marathon Swimmers' Federation.

Chrysikopoulos also attempted to complete the same route in 2024, but the attempt ended because of rough seas and the numerous jellyfish encountered along the way. This time, the swimmer managed to reach Italy without abandoning the attempt.

The crossing follows other extreme achievements. In July 2025, he set a Guinness World Record after swimming 151 kilometers in 48 hours in a 50-meter pool. His first Guinness record dates back to 2021, when he covered 358.2 kilometers in seven days.

A man swam the distance between Greece and Italy in 31 hours and 50 minutes