Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

After conquering the Oceans Seven, the Bulgarian swimmer has a new goal

Petar Stoychev nears world record with only 1 of 7 ocean straits left to swim

Stoychev crossed Tsugaru Strait in 9 hours despite tsunami warning

Photo: Facebook/Petar Stoychev

Hours before Petar Stoychev arrived in Japan for the final swimming marathon across the Tsugaru Strait of the Seven Oceans series, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake and typhoon struck

A tsunami was also expected. "Japan was a very surprising trip. The distance there should have been 20 km, but because of the strong currents we started from a fishing village 10 km away. The first half of the distance took us 3 hours and 10-15 minutes, but the second half took us twice as long," Stoychev told bTV.

In the sea, Stoychev swims in a simple textile swimsuit that does not protect him from the cold water. A small red light is attached to his swimsuit to make him visible in the dark. He also rubs his body with special ointments to prevent his skin from chafing in the salty water.

Petar Stoychev has conquered the Oceans Seven, but now he is going for a new record.

Next week, Stoychev will travel to England to swim the Channel for the third time. If he does, he'll become the first person in the world to swim all seven of the Oceans Seven marathons in less than half a year. He last swam La Manche in 2007, when he also set a world record.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Karlos Nasar

Unstoppable Karlos Nasar becomes world weightlifting champion for the third time, sets new record

Bulgaria's Olympic champion from Paris Karlos Nasar became the world champion in weightlifting for the third time . At the World Championships in Førde , Norway, he took gold in the clean and jerk movement with 222 kg, as well as in the combined..

published on 10/9/25 10:59 PM
Karlos Nasar

Karlos Nasar aims for gold in the men's 94-kg weight class at the World Weightlifting Championships

Olympic, world and European champion Karlos Nasar will take to the podium on Thursday at the World Weightlifting Championships in Forde, Norway, competing for gold in his new 94kg category. Victory would earn Nasar his third world title in three..

published on 10/9/25 5:49 PM

Sofia vies with Varna for hosting European volleyball championship

Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev expressed the wish for the European volleyball championship in 2026 to take place in Sofia and not in Varna as planned. We confirm the invitation, along with the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation, to host the European..

published on 10/9/25 10:24 AM