Trentino Swimmer Christian Sartori Attempts Lake Garda Crossing in 20 Hours
In June ’97, 30-year-old Marco Battaggia from Mestre crossed Lake Garda (with fins) in 21 hours and 58 minutes. In October ’99, the 44-year-old Slovenian Martin Streel, world record holder for extreme distance swimming, outdid himself: 21 hours, 25 minutes, 32 seconds. And without fins. Both started from Riva and managed to reach the port of Desenzano, not without difficulty. The distance: about 60 kilometers.
Results and Past Attempts
Before them, in 1987, a Bari lawyer (Pinto) attempted the crossing: he dived at Desenzano but lost orientation and was stranded in the shallows of Lazise, on the Veronese shore. Recently, news has circulated of another attempt. This time, a Trentino, Christian Sartori, 32 years old, police officer, and C2 basketball player, will try.
On Tuesday, August 21, at 7 a.m., he will depart from the Sabbioni beach in Riva and aim to reach the caves of Catullo in Sirmione. He will be accompanied by three canoes serving as directional indicators, and a cabin cruiser equipped with GPS — the device capable of providing directional coordinates connected to satellite networks. He will wear a wetsuit and a pair of fins, ordered online from an American company that supplies the Navy Seals and the Italian Marines, the special units of the San Marco Battalion.
Sartori’s Preparation and Objectives
Sartori’s goal is to complete the swim in 20 hours. “I’ve been preparing for a month and a half,” he stated. “I swim three days, rest on the fourth, though during recovery I also ride my mountain bike for about forty kilometers.” The stretch from Riva to Sirmione is exactly 49 kilometers. However, due to currents, maintaining a straight line isn’t always possible.
Lake Conditions and Streel’s Experiences
“In the sea,” — declared Streel after his attempt — “salty water irritates the lips and face. In the lake, I encountered whirlpools. During the first 30 kilometers, the weather was terrible. The wind from the north raised waves. Then came rain showers. During the night, the cold temperature caused problems.” His companions — a doctor, coach, diver, and a small boat from the Fraglia Vela — calculated that, zigzagging, he surpassed 70 kilometers. Every twenty minutes, the Slovenian stopped to grab a plastic bottle filled with pasta and rice in broth.
Maestro of music and honorary ambassador of the WWF, Streel was no stranger to such feats. He had previously crossed the English Channel from Dover to Calais, the sea stretch between Tunisia and the island of Pantelleria, and from Lignano to Ravenna (162 kilometers).
Battaggia’s Difficulties
As for Battaggia, he encountered serious difficulties. He chose the shortest night of the year, between June 21 and 22, 1997, but was forced to fight against a severe storm. A thunderstorm and the water temperature (just 14 degrees Celsius) hampered his progress. Malfunctioning of the towing floating sled, used as a reference, forced his companions to attach some phosphorescent lights to the athlete’s head to guide him in the dark. Halfway through, opposing currents also hindered him.
Sartori’s Preparation and Diet
To ensure success, Sartori follows a special low-calorie diet prepared by dietitian-nutritionist Alina Suder, a Polish native living in Riva for years. He consumes between 5,000 and 7,000 calories daily to increase body fat mass to about 25% of his weight, which is 86 kilograms. During the swim, he aims to lose between seven and eight kilograms.
“I don’t intend to beat any record,” — Christian said. “The challenge is to reach Sirmione. I thank immediately the friends who will follow me: the volunteers of the Trentino Rescue Association, the Canottieri Virtus club. Thanks also to everyone who has supported and stands by me. I expect to complete the crossing in an estimated time between 16 and 22 hours. Afterwards, at the Catullo peninsula, we’ll all go eat pizza. Hoping to celebrate this achievement.”
