Diving into the depths of the Mediterranean Sea, Noam Yaron attempted a bold crossing from Calvi to Monaco. However, he had to abandon after reaching 100 kilometers out of a total of 180 kilometers, due to the conditions.
This summer, the 27-year-old Swiss, Noam Yaron, aimed to make a big impact by attempting to break the world record for the longest swim crossing. His goal? To cover 180 kilometers, connecting Corsica to Monaco, to raise awareness about the dangers threatening the Mediterranean, particularly the Pelagos Sanctuary.
A Battle Against the Elements
Last Friday, Noam Yaron set off from the port of Calvi, in Corsica. “Confident, full of hope, and above all, humble”, he plunged into the Mediterranean waters, ready to swim non-stop for three days and three nights.
Yet, after 48 hours of continuous swimming and 100 kilometers covered, nature took over. The waves became more violent, the currents stronger, and the wind more unbearable. The same sea he wanted to protect became his adversary. Noam had to face the reality: he could not finish what he had started. “It’s the sea that won this time”, he declared on his social media after having to abort his attempt.
The Importance of the Team
Although he swims alone in the vast blue, Noam Yaron is never truly alone. Behind him is a dedicated team, ready to do anything to help him achieve his dreams. “I am nothing without them”, he confides. Surrounding him is a group of enthusiasts, all aligned with his cause, who support him daily.
“They have become friends and a family. I even have the privilege of having my parents on board”, he explains with eyes full of emotion. Each member of his team shares the same passion for the environment and is committed alongside him to spread his message and conduct scientific research in parallel.
A Noble Cause
Beyond the athletic performance, Noam Yaron primarily wishes to raise awareness. The Mediterranean is in danger, specifically threatened by maritime traffic. For Noam: “A law needs to be established regarding the Pelagos marine area. A law to limit the speed of boats, which is currently voluntary. We would like to make it restrictive because it is destroying marine biodiversity.”
Marine biodiversity is another key point of the challenge. “The collection of scientific data is the greatest success of this project. For example, we have notably analyzed the DNA of the water. This might allow us to rediscover, revisit, or observe the presence of species that are perhaps considered endangered. And to know if there really are white sharks in the Mediterranean. He laughs. So, these collections are really quite crazy things”, he shares.
Horizon 2025
However, for Noam, this abandonment is not an end, but a new beginning. “I will come back next year”, he promised. Far from being discouraged, he sees in this failure an opportunity to better prepare, to understand more about the whims of the sea, and most importantly, to come back stronger. His goal remains unchanged: to cover these 180 kilometers. Not for glory, but for the planet!
In 2025, he will set off again to conquer the Mediterranean, with the same determination, but perhaps this time with more experience. So, see you next June for the second round of this adventure.