Italian endurance swimmer Mauro Giaconia has etched his name into the record books by completing the longest swim ever recorded in a lagoon‑style body of water — a remarkable test of stamina and determination inside one of the world’s largest man‑made lagoons.
At age 37, Giaconia swam 101 km (62 miles) in a 24‑hour marathon swim inside the vast San Alfonso del Mar lagoon near Algarrobo, Chile a massive saltwater water body known for its record‑breaking size and deep turquoise expanse.
The grueling swim tested both physical and mental limits. Giaconia endured hours of saltwater exposure, later noting that his tongue went numb for an extended period due to the saline conditions a testament to the extreme endurance required to complete such a feat.
San Alfonso del Mar is famous as one of the world’s largest swimming pools or lagoons, stretching over a kilometre in length and covering an area of 20 acres. The lagoon’s enormous scale provided a unique setting for Giaconia’s world‑record attempt, blending high‑achievement athleticism with a surreal aquatic backdrop.
Giaconia who describes himself as a lover of extreme and challenging sports — has a long history of endurance swimming, including marathon swims in both pools and the open sea, and has often pushed past conventional limits to set new personal and competitive benchmarks.
