Russian Swimmer to Train at Lake Sevan

Russian swimmer Vitaly Kochnev, who has a spinal injury, is beginning preparations to swim in the icy waters of Antarctica, and for that purpose, he will conduct training sessions at Lake Sevan. This was reported to RIA Novosti by the event organizer Alexey Svistunov.

“Before swimming in Antarctica, the future record-holder will arrive in Armenia for a week to train in the cold waters of Lake Sevan,” said Svistunov, the chief editor of the Russian Record Book.

The unique project of the disabled Russian athlete to swim one kilometer in the icy waters near the shores of Antarctica is scheduled for February-March 2025, with the boat departing from Ushuaia (Argentina). During that period, the water temperature is expected to be minus 1.7 degrees Celsius.

Kochnev served in the military in special forces but suffered a spinal fracture, resulting in him being classified as a first-group disability. After years of rehabilitation, he returned to swimming and has been a participant in various competitions in Russia and around the world for over 20 years.

Kochnev's swim in Antarctica will be dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War and the 205th anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica by Russians.