Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Tsanko Tsankov swims 108 kilometers in the Danube River

| updated on 9/7/24 4:41 PM
Photo: Facebook / Tsanko Tsankov

Tsanko Tsankov became the first swimmer to cover a distance of over 100 kilometers in the Danube River.

"Tsanko Tsankov did it! 108 kilometers and 250 meters in the Danube River – 18 hours, 12 minutes and 32 seconds! Non-stop swimming! Hero!",  announced his coach Nikolay Iliev.

The swimmer started his marathon endeavour at 3.17 am on September 6 from the outskirts of Vidin and finished at 9.31 pm at the Radetsky ship in Kozloduy. The swim followed the rules of the World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA) and was administered by that organization, Iliev Sport Agency announced before the start.

Today, Tsanko Tsankov and his coach, Nikolay Iliev, will be awarded for their historic achievement by the mayor of Vidin Municipality, Tsvetan Tsenkov. The ceremony will take place in front of the Vidin Art Gallery.

Tsanko Tsankov is the first Bulgarian to swim the distance from Europe to Africa (through the Strait of Gibraltar) and a world champion in ice swimming, reminded BGNES. 

At a ceremony held on the open stage in front of the Vidin Art Gallery, Vidin Deputy Mayor Borislava Borisova presented honorary certificates and plaques to Tsanko Tsankov and his coach Nikolay Iliev "for their tireless efforts, bravery and courage in achieving this historic success". She wished them to always carry courage in their hearts, to inspire the children of Vidin and to continue to glorify Bulgaria around the world.




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.

More from category

85 folk ensembles to participate in the "Sparks from the Past" festival in Apriltsi

A total of 85 folk ensembles from across the country will participate in the "Sparks from the Past" festival, which will take place in the mountain town of Apriltsi on July 26 and 27. The open-air stage for the performances will be set up at..

published on 7/26/25 5:45 AM

Red heat alert issued for 12 Bulgarian districts, orange code alert in effect for the rest of the country

On Saturday, it will be sunny and even hotter. In the afternoon, clouds will form over the mountainous regions of Western Bulgaria, and by the evening, also in the northwestern areas. Isolated thunderstorms and rain showers are expected in some..

published on 7/25/25 6:25 PM

President: Pogrom on the Constitution will continue to distort political life

The flaws in the Constitution, admitted by the government of the GERB-SDS and PP-DB coalition with the support of the DPS in 2023, were not removed by the Constitutional Court. That is how President Rumen Radev commented on the fact that yesterday the..

published on 7/25/25 5:46 PM