Cancer survivor and Olympic champ conquers new challenge

THE HAGUE - A Dutchman on Monday completed a marathon swim along the route of the country's most famed ice skating race - which has not been held for two decades as climate change bites.

Instead of skating the daunting Elfstedentocht (Eleven Cities Tour), former Olympic champion long-distance swimmer Maarten van der Weijden slogged his way through all 195 kilometers (121 miles) of its murky canals.

Van der Weijden embarked on the epic journey across northern Friesland province last Friday and finally finished it on Monday evening, as the Netherlands basked in a heatwave.

"It took a long time but it was also very special and amazingly beautiful," the 38-year-old told broadcaster NOS.

Van der Weijden is a cancer survivor who overcame leukaemia to win a gold medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing in the 10-kilometer open water race.

His feat of endurance raised 3.9 million euros ($4.4 million) for cancer research.

It is van der Weijden's second bid to complete the route after failing last year. This time he said he had slept and eaten more, and worn a warmer wetsuit, Dutch news agency ANP reported.

"I love swimming, helping others and setting goals for myself," he told broadcaster EO recently.

Sorry, no medal

The swimmer followed the same route as the Elfstedentocht, one of the Netherlands' most beloved traditions which is now enduring a record drought.

The previous edition was in 1997, the last time the ice was thick enough to support both skaters and the hundreds of thousands of spectators the event normally attracts.

With meteorologists predicting ever-warmer weather due to global warming, it is uncertain when another Elfstedentocht will be held on ice.

In the meantime, Van der Weijden's alternative marathon along the course has captured the country's imagination, with supporters cheering him along every kilometer of his route.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte hailed the swimmer's "incredible performance", saying on Twitter: "The whole of the Netherlands is swimming with you!"

Completing the skating race is seen as a major achievement and so important that soldiers are allowed to wear its medal, called the Elfstedenkruisje (Eleven Cities Cross), on military uniforms.

Participants qualify for the medal after collecting stamps on a card from all the 11 cities around Friesland with the start and finish in the city of Leeuwarden.

Unfortunately for van der Weijden, the famously rule-abiding Dutch say he will not receive an Elfstedenkruisje for his epic swim.

"Perhaps he deserves a cross, but he won't get one," Immie Jonkman, who chairs the Eleven cities marathon, told Frisian regional radio.

"Our cross is only for people who have skated the marathon. Although we applaud him, we cannot make an exception."

Agence France-Presse