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ARGArgentinaSport:SwimmingGustavo Oriozabala raced the 800 and 1,500 metres in the pool before turning to open water in Argentina. The swimmer from Mendoza joined the national circuit and then began racing internationally. In February 1992 he placed fourth in the 56.725 km Santa Fe–Coronda marathon. That July he won the 40 km Traversée internationale du lac St-Jean from Péribonka to Roberval in Quebec, finishing in 9 hours 55 minutes 55 seconds.
At the English Channel in 1993 he swam from England to France in 8 hours 59 minutes. The Channel Swimming Association lists him as Gustavo Oriozavala and awarded him its fastest swim by a man title for that year. Reg Brickell Jr piloted Helen Ann Marie for the crossing, with R. W. Brickell recorded as observer.
Oriozabala also sought out solo routes in southern waters. The International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame named him an Honor Swimmer in 2001. In a later interview with fellow marathon swimmer Diego Degano, he described his 2006 swim between the two main Falkland Islands as a tribute to the dead of both sides in the 1982 war. Twenty years later, he swam across Lake Nahuel Huapi to a veterans’ memorial in Bariloche.
1993 England-to-France solo in 8 hours 59 minutes, CSA fastest swim by a man
Also recorded as Gustavo Oriozavala.
Crossing details, recordings & verificationSolo · 1-way
England to France
Saturday, 11 September 1993 (recorded swim date)
Elapsed time · 8h 59m
Start clock · Clock time not confirmed
Finish clock · Clock time not confirmed
Ratifying body's record checked · See the crossing record for qualifications and supporting evidence.
Open-water swimming · Race
Sunday, 2 February 1992 (event date)
Santa Fe, Argentina
Fourth overall
Published distance · 56.725 km
Placing / category · 4th overall
Published elapsed time · 7h 50m 20s
Published account checked · Details and qualifications are in the career evidence.
Open-water swimming · Race
Sunday, 26 July 1992 (event date)
Péribonka to Roberval, Quebec, Canada
Won the 38th Traversée
Published distance · 40 km
Placing / category · 1st overall
Published elapsed time · 9h 55m 55s
Published account checked · Details and qualifications are in the career evidence.
1992-02-02
Finished the 19th edition in 7 hours 50 minutes 20 seconds.
1992-07-26
Won the 38th Traversée from Péribonka to Roberval.
1993-09
Earned the CSA’s fastest swim by a man award with an 8 hour 59 minute crossing.
2001
Recognised as an Honor Swimmer from Argentina.
2006
Swam between the main islands in memory of people killed on both sides in 1982.
2026
Swam to Bariloche in tribute to veterans, twenty years after his Falkland Islands swim.
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Selected swimming performances appear in the English Channel record above.
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