Théo Curin swims 17 km across Lake Annecy and beats his personal best
Disabled swimmer Théo Curin, 22, crossed Lake Annecy for 17 km this Wednesday morning, beating his personal distance record. The young man is preparing for a new challenge in Argentina: the Santa Fe-Coronda, a 57 km aquatic marathon.
The day had not yet risen when Théo Curin undertook his great crossing of Lake Annecy. It was 4 a.m. on Wednesday August 10 when the swimmer immersed himself in water at 24 °C at Albigny beach to begin his 17 kilometer journey by swimming. A test that is not trivial for the 22-year-old sportsman, amputated by four limbs, who has just achieved one of his goals.
“I had never swum more than 10 km at once. This is my new personal best”welcomes Théo Curin, who arrived in Doussard after 5h49 of effort. “And I am pleasantly surprised by my state of form (…) It is always a source of great pride”reacts the young man, amputated since the age of 6 after contracting meningitis.
The young swimmer was not alone in this event. At his side, Matthieu Witvoet, adventurer committed to the environmental cause, with whom Théo Curin undertook his 122 km crossing of Lake Titicaca in October 2021. Challenge met, in total autonomy, after 11 days. “Beyond the sporting aspect, there was sharing with Mathieu. A human aspect”says the swimmer, double silver medalist at the disabled world swimming championships (100 m and 200 m freestyle).
If Théo Curin trains regularly at Lake Annecy, it is always with the idea of preparing for a new challenge. This crossing is no exception to the rule. The swimmer is this time aiming for the mythical Santa Fe-Coronda, a 57 km aquatic marathon which will take place on November 13 in Argentina. A race that brings together the best international open water swimmers and in which no disabled athlete has yet participated. The winners deliver approximately 8 hours at the distance.
“This challenge means a lot to me, it’s a new challenge”, he explains. To prepare for the Santa Fe-Coronda, Théo Curin is coached by Stéphane Lecat, director of the French open water teams who has participated in the race eight times and won it four times. In addition to the sporting aspect, this aquatic marathon brings together difficult swimming conditions: muddy water, high temperature, strong currents…
“The training will essentially consist of increasing his physical endurance capacities and optimizing his mental qualities”, explains Stéphane Lecat in a press release. Up to six swimming sessions per week await Théo Curin to prepare for this aquatic marathon.
“In addition to this preparation, I have planned a stage in open water in a hot country so that Theo can train in climatic conditions close to those he will have on D-Day”, adds his trainer. Not to mention the muscle strengthening sessions, three times a week.
Théo Curin will travel to Argentina accompanied by two young people with disabilities and will lead conferences to raise awareness of the acceptance of difference. “The idea is to make things happen in a country where it is complicated to be disabledhe completes. It is also to show these young people that anything is possible.”