Romanian librarian Avram Iancu, who on Monday successfully swam the breaststroke across the English Channel, described the challenge at the end of the crossing as 'absolutely exhausting,' saying it was the toughest swimming experience of his entire career.

'I did it! And although I did it, my strength is not my own merit, but a gift from God, for which I am grateful to Him! By far, this was the hardest and most difficult swim of my entire career. I am simply drained out. (...) It was a 24-hour and 46-minute swim, absolutely exhausting. I went through every possible state: almost unbearable physical pain and psychological torment that I don't even want to talk about anymore. This breaststroke style is very, very difficult,' Avram Iancu told AGERPRES.

The multisport athlete from Petrosani emphasized that crossing the English Channel using the breaststroke adds several achievements to his record, from becoming the first Romanian to accomplish the feat to ranking among the world's top ten men to have successfully completed the challenge.

'This is a historic achievement - I say this without exaggeration; it is extremely rare. As a result of this achievement, I became the first Romanian to swim across the English Channel using the breaststroke, an absolute national first. Then there is the outstanding world achievement, because I became the tenth man - in the global top ten - to swim across the English Channel using the breaststroke, and I am very proud of this, bringing an end to a 'drought' in this field, because exactly 11 years ago, on August 17, a man last achieved this feat. So, an 11-year 'drought' was ended by a Romanian who earned a place in the global top ten. And I am truly delighted to have made it into such a prestigious ranking,' Iancu added.

Last but not least, the swimmer from Petrosani underscored that he had achieved a special 'hat-trick' in the English Channel, following his successful crossings in 2016 and 2024 using the freestyle, and in 2026 using the breaststroke.

Swimmer Avram Iancu successfully crossed the English Channel on Monday using the breaststroke, becoming the first Romanian to achieve the feat and the 13th swimmer in the world - ten men and three women - to have successfully completed such a challenge.

His support team announced that the English Channel crossing was completed after 24 hours and 46 minutes, with the official time still to be validated by the two race observers.

Through this swim, which he completed without a wetsuit, librarian Avram Iancu also sought to mark his 50th birthday.

He has several open-water swimming achievements to his name, having crossed the English Channel without a wetsuit using the freestyle in August 2016 and July 2024.

His sporting record also includes swimming the entire length of the Danube in 2017, covering 2,860 kilometers from its source to its mouth at the Black Sea.

In July 2022, Iancu became the first Romanian to swim across the Bristol Channel in the United Kingdom. In 2023, he swam the length of the Rhine, and in August 2025 he crossed Germany's Main River between the Rhine and the Danube. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Sorin Blada; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)