VALLETTA, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- The World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA) has ratified a 142.3km swim by Maltese ultra athlete Neil Agius in 60 hours and 35 minutes, Agius announced on Saturday.

Agius told a press conference that this ratification confirms his new world record for the longest, unassisted, current-neutral ocean swim ever recorded.

The WOWSA is the governing body that oversees this ultra-endurance sport.

Agius swam around Malta and Gozo to raise awareness about the importance of keeping our seas clean.

He set off from Ghadira Bay, Mellieha, shortly after 9 a.m. last Saturday and touched land just before 10 p.m. on Monday night after his team became increasingly concerned about his safety amid worsening weather conditions with outbursts of rain, strong currents, winds, and an increasing sea swell.

A week after his outstanding feat, he explained how he was taking 90-second breaks every 30 minutes.

During that time, he had to eat, drink and rinse his mouth with mouthwash to reduce inflammation caused by the sea salt. He also had these little time windows to speak to his crew members who were following him on a boat.

He said he spent his time focusing on the positioning of his shoulders, counting the number of strokes every minute to keep the rhythm and conserve energy.

Asked about future plans, Agius said he was now concentrating on other big challenges, including opening a yoga hub with his partner to teach breathing exercises and help others reach their peak performance. Enditem

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