ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Petar Stoychev becomes the first Bulgarian to swim the Cook Strait in New Zealand

Photo: Petar Stoychev's private archive

Bulgaria's Petar Stoychev, recognized as the world's most successful swimmer in the marathon, recorded yet another serious achievement by becoming the first Bulgarian to swim across the Cook Strait, connecting the South and North Islands of New Zealand. 

Stoychev succeeded despite extremely difficult conditions - frigid water of 14 degrees Celcius, very strong wind, big waves and strong current. 

The Cook Strait is generally considered one of the most dangerous straits in the world. The distance between the two islands is about 26 kilometers in a straight line, and Stoychev swam over 20.7 nautical miles (over 38 kilometers) in the harsh conditions from the South to the North Island.

Stoychev crossed the Cook Strait in 6.51 hours - the best time for the 2023/2024 season.

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.
Radio Bulgaria Sport    Cook Strait New Zealand open-water swimming Petar Stoychev swimmer swimming

More from category

Tennis player Grigor Dimitrov remains No. 10 in the world

According to the latest ATP world rankings, Grigor Dimitrov keeps his tenth position, despite failing to defend his points from the Brisbane title due to an injury. The Bulgarian lost 150 points and has an asset of 3200 –  five more..

published on 1/6/25 1:43 PM
Julio Velazquez (right) is the new head coach of Levski

Spaniard Julio Velazquez is the new head coach of Levski football club

Julio Velazquez is the new head coach of the representative team of Levski football club . The specialist's contract is for a period of one and a half years, the club announced. His staff includes assistant coaches Fernando Gaspar Laborie and Darko..

published on 1/5/25 6:04 PM

Minister of Sport, Mayor of Sofia award the best young athletes for 2024

Bulgaria's best young athletes for 2024 will be awarded today at a ceremony organised by the Viasport.bg website and Free Media Group Ltd. The ceremony will be attended by caretaker Minister of Youth and Sports Georgi Glushkov and Sofia Mayor Vassil..

published on 1/5/25 7:25 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 1 | Max: 8
Partly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 6
Partly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 6
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 7
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 8
Partly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 7
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 5
Partly Cloudy
Min: -15 | Max: 3
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 10
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 1 | Max: 8
Partly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 6
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 8
Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 8
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 1 | Max: 6
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 6
Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 9
Partly Cloudy
Min: -6 | Max: 4
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -11 | Max: 1
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -12 | Max: 1
Partly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 9
Rain / Snow
Min: -3 | Max: 2
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 1 | Max: 5
Partly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 9
Partly Cloudy
Min: -9 | Max: 4
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 9
Partly Cloudy
Min: -10 | Max: 5
Partly Cloudy
Min: -6 | Max: 7
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

Karlos Nassar named Bulgaria's Athlete of the Year for 2024

Olympic, world and European weightlifting champion Кarlos Nassar has been named Bulgaria's Athlete of the Year for 2024. Olympic champion Karlos..

published on 2/25/25 8:55 AM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"