Swiss endurance swimmer Noam Yaron’s second attempt to complete the extraordinary 180-kilometre swim from Calvi, Corsica to Monaco has ended heartbreakingly close to his goal, with the swimmer forced to exit the water just two kilometres from the finish line at Monaco’s Méridien Beach Plaza Hotel.
After nearly five days and four nights of non-stop swimming, Yaron was pulled from the Mediterranean waters and immediately placed under medical supervision. His support team later confirmed via social media that his condition is improving, though he requires continued rest to recover from the tremendous physical effort. In a newsletter to supporters, the athlete described the challenging final stages of his conservation mission.
“After nearly 5 days and 4 night swimming relentlessly for nature, I had to get out of the water, just 2km from my final objective: the beach of the Hotel Le Méridien Beach Plaza in Monaco,” Yaron wrote. “I am breathing. I am speaking. I am being looked after by doctors.”
The swimmer also revealed the severe physical toll the marathon swim took on his body. “Fatigue made me hallucinate deliriously, my tongue and palate swelled because of the salt, making swallowing difficult,” he described.
Despite the punishing conditions, Yaron also experienced remarkable wildlife encounters during his time in Mediterranean waters, including “magical meetings with dolphins, loggerhead turtles, fin whales, rays, and many other spectacular animals.”
Conservation mission continues
This swim was undertaken to raise awareness about urgent marine conservation needs in the Mediterranean, which has lost over half of its marine species in two decades, with only 0,23% waters under meaningful protection.
Yaron used his platform to highlight three key conservation priorities. He reminded the public of the urgency to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030, including 10% strict protection excluding all industrial activities within Marine Protected Areas. He also called for strengthening the protection level of the Pelagos Sanctuary by creating new strict protection zones and limiting speed to 10 knots. Finally, he stressed the need to harmonise French ‘strong protection’ with ‘strict protection’ standards established by the European Union in its Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.
This marks Yaron’s second attempt at the epic swim. His first effort ended on 25 August 2024 after 48 hours when his support team withdrew him due to adverse weather and strong currents, having covered 100 kilometres.
Despite falling short of his ultimate goal, Yaron indicated that his conservation mission continues. “The adventure doesn’t stop there, I’ll tell you the rest very soon,” he wrote to supporters. “For now, I’m going to rest and savour all the support and energy you sent me during this extraordinary crossing”.
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Main photo credit: Noam Yaron’s social media.
