On July 2010 after my Solo Channel Crossing I had the honor of meeting French swimmer Stephane Lorenzo who became the first French disable swimmer to conquer the English Channel. He crossed the English Channel in 16:11 Hrs. Follow below his story and his website.(Stephane Lorenzzo, second from the right).
http://www.unemanchepartout.fr/mediascont.php?id=15
PRESENTATION.
STEPHANE LORENZO.
I am 37 years old, a competitive sportsman, and was a member of the French "Handisport" [disabled] swimming team from 1992 to 1996 and from 2003- 2004.
The passion is still the same - that of water and water sports, most particularly swimming.
The different occupations that I have had have always been in that area, and even now as I work as a Bodyguard and Swimming instructor at Aix-Les-Bains swimming pool, a qualified Sports Teacher.
After a break of several years for family and professional reasons, I decided to get back in training in the pool in order to take up a mad challenge: to swim across the English Channel. My motivation remains as strong as ever.
As I was born with a handicap, with no femur in my left leg, I still have to prove that I am as capable as an able-bodied person.
In taking on this challenge, I am hoping to prove to everyone that in spite of a handicap, of whatever kind, the human body can adapt and achieve great things.
To succeed in this project, I am giving myself two years of preparation [the crossing is planned for the beginning of August 2010] in order to make sure of my plans, to amass sufficient funds and to do my training.
I want to hold all the trump cards, have all the advantages on my side and so I have [ the help of] a physical training specialist, Frederic Bocquet, a physio-masseur, who will co-ordinate training sessions, and an advisory doctor, Valerie Gueguen, a sports doctor who will also look after my diet.
My preparations are made up of 6 x 3 hour long training sessions each week, plus a regularouting in a kayak on Lac du Bourget of about four hours.
I have the physique to do it, the mental capacity to succeed and the support required to make a go of this marvelous project: to be among the 900 swimmers to conquer the tiredness, the cold, the Channel currents and above all the first handicapped Frenchman to succeed.
An Association " Une Manche Partout" has been set up to collect the necessary funds. Also there is an internet site "http://www.une manche partout.fr" in order to publicize and give up-to-date information about the crossing, the training and to provide a site for the partners [sponsors]
I already have the support of various media groups who will follow my preparation up to the crossing. I would be very pleased to count on you as one of my sponsors, to carry our symbol, the flag of Aix-Les-Bains, of Savoie and of France as a sign of success and of surpassing oneself.
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