A young German woman has swum across the Mediterranean from Europe to Africa.
Nathalie Pohl, 21, took 2 hours and 53 minutes to achieve the 15 kilometre distance, setting a new world record. The Gibraltar-record for men is 2 hours and 16 minutes,
The course was from Tarifa in Andalusia and Point Cires in Morocco through the Strait of Gibraltar.
The sea was not only a chilly 14 degrees on Sunday, but also beset with Atlantic currents. The Marburg athlete’s route took her across one of the busiest shipping ways.
Her effort shaved 10 minutes off the previous record set by Australian Penelope Palfrey six years ago.
"I am very happy that it went so well and I have, despite the harsh conditions even got a peak time," Pohl said after the successful swim
It was not Pohl’s first victory. Two years ago, she also set the women’s record by taking 2 hours and 50 minutes to swim 12 kilometres across Germany’s Lake Constance.
Her next challenge is likely to be the 32 kilometre English Channel.
