Swimmer Aims at Record With 3 Laps of Manhattan
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Marathon swimmer Skip Storch will swim unassisted around Manhattan three times before 9:30 tonight in an attempt both to break the world record and to raise money for the inflammatory disease sarcoidosis.
Mr. Storch, 50, who once broke his own world record by swimming 150 miles down the Hudson River in 41 hours and 30 minutes, will complete the 85.5-mile swim without the aid of a flotation device or wetsuit.
His coach, Timothy Johnson, said he was optimistic about Mr. Storch’s chances. “If he stays in the water, he’ll do it. He’ll set the record,” he said.
Stacy Chanin set the world record at 23, in 1984, when she circled the island in 33 hours and 30 minutes.
Just after noon yesterday, Mr. Storch dove into the water at East 96th Street. He made it to his first time mark, the Triborough Bridge, by 12:59 p.m., just one minute late, Mr. Johnson said.
Mr. Storch must tread water even during his two scheduled breaks, when he can eat and rest. Because of the cool temperatures — the water is about 72 degrees Fahrenheit — his meals are heated.
Mr. Storch suffers from pulmonary sarcoidosis, a disease in which inflamed cells form in the lungs and heart.
