In a feat of extreme endurance and a testament to the power of the human spirit, competitive swimmer Michael Moreau has set a new Guinness World Record by becoming the first person to swim around Manhattan Island with his wrists chained.
Moreau, a long-distance swimmer and New York City resident, took on the grueling 20 Bridges Swim on September 9, navigating the 29.54-mile (47.538 km) course in an impressive 9 hours, 41 minutes, and 46 seconds. What makes his journey even more remarkable is that he completed the entire swim with his hands in handcuffs, a challenge that required him to rely almost entirely on a powerful, streamlined breaststroke kick for propulsion.
The daring stunt earned him two Guinness World Records titles: the farthest distance swimming wearing handcuffs and the fastest circumnavigation swim around Manhattan Island wearing handcuffs.
The record-breaking swim was a complex logistical undertaking. Moreau was closely followed by a kayaker who supplied him with electrolytes and a safety boat that carried his support team and two Guinness World Records officials. His sister, Aimee Anthony, a CPR-trained professional, was also on board, holding the key to the cuffs.
Moreau’s journey is a story of a return to a lifelong passion. After a 20-year hiatus from competitive swimming, he found a new love for the sport through open-water events. This record-breaking swim, a cross between the athletic prowess of a long-distance swimmer and the showmanship of an escape artist, solidifies his place in the history books and demonstrates the extremes of human endurance and resilience.
