China's Zhang Jian swam across the Bohai Gulf to China's north
eastern coast in the morning of August 10, after making 123.58
kilometers with a time of 50 hours and 22 minutes.
Zhang, a teacher of the Beijing Sports University, began his
crossing from Lushun Port, Liaoning Province, at eight clock on
August 8th, and finished the distance about 10:22 this morning in
Penglai shore, Shandong Province.
All his family, including his wife Li Xiaona, his parents and three
brothers were waiting at the East Beach to greet Zhang, who looked
a little pale and exhausted after staying on the sea for nearly 50
hours. He started out at 7:50 am Tuesday morning.
However, Zhang tried to stand on his own feet and walked for more
than 300 metres after arrival, according to Ju Chuanjiang, a China
Daily reporter covering the event on the spot. Zhang was sent to a
hospital immediately in an ambulance for physical check-up.
“My husband is excellent and he is a hero," said Li, tears running
down her face.
"I
am quite proud of my son,'' said his father.
Zhang started out at 7:50 am Tuesday morning from Lushun in
Northeast China's Liaoning Province. The total distance across the
Bohai Bay is about 120 kilometers.
Winds on the Bohai Bay reached force 5-6 Wednesday morning, which
added to the difficulty of Zhang's endeavor to be the first man to
swim across the distance.
The first 25 kilometers of the swimming are treacherous because of
thick seaweed that can entangle swimmers. But Zhang made it through
unscathed.
After more than 30 hours, Zhang was reportedly still in good shape.
He did have a stomachache because of the cold, so a nutritionist
made hot noodles for him. Experts said the deepest part of Zhang's
course reached 86 kilometers.
Zhang even asked people in the boat accompanying him how he was
doing for the planned time. When he was told that he was about 45
minutes behind schedule, he said “that's too bad'' and kept
swimming.
Both Zhang and his wife Li are teachers from Beijing Sports
University.
(People’s Daily)