Christian Sartori completes 49 km Lake Garda swim in record time
It was exactly 7:00 p.m. when Christian Sartori began his adventure to conquer Lake Garda. The 33-year-old Riva police officer entered the water, put on his fins, and, before heading towards Sirmione, waved to the small crowd of friends watching from the beach at Sabbioni. Then, he turned and started to swim out into the open water.
Preparation and Departure
Christian’s preparation was slow and meticulous; at the Canottieri Virtus Riva club headquarters, he carefully executed all the steps of a real ritual. First, he applied camphor oil all over his body, then donned the special wetsuit, sealing it with adhesive tape at his ankles and wrists.
Next came the watch and two lightweight weights for his legs. All around – in an almost religious silence – were friends from the police, basketball, cameramen, photographers, and journalists. Calm, although his trembling hands revealed a hint of emotion, the Riva native sat quietly for a moment, sipping a sports drink.
Perhaps he was seeking concentration, mentally retracing the long journey ahead, but he also surely thought of Silvia Bonometti, the friend who just a few months ago had sparked the idea of undertaking this feat, which he was now preparing to attempt.
Memory and Official Start
That Silvia who is no longer with us, who passed away forever on a June night. After finishing rapid autogenic training, the athlete handed his bag to the men of Associazione Trentina Salvataggio (who would assist him until the end of the crossing aboard a rubber boat), and, encouraged by applause, he headed toward the shore.
There, in the customary interview, Christian remembered his motivation for attempting the crossing, dedicating it especially to Silvia, while emphasizing the importance of willpower for success in endeavors like this.
Sea Departure and Route
The young man then applied protective grease to his face, put on his cap, and threw his fins into the water, where he descended a few moments later to put them on. Offshore, the police and Carabinieri patrol boats and the rescue speedboat awaited him. Around midnight, Dr. Marini also boarded the rescue boat to check Christian’s health.
A small nod, and two Virtus canoes slipped into the water, heading out into the open sea: serving as the lead for the entire route, which the athlete immediately followed just a few meters behind. With the last applause in his ears, Sartori swiftly moved away and, within minutes, had become a small dot on the lake.
Before him lay 49 kilometers of water, a dark and tough night, countless strokes, and a mountain of thoughts. He is scheduled to arrive in Sirmione today, in the early afternoon.
