July 26, 2016 - 9:04 AM
VERNON, B.C. - A potentially record-breaking swim is churning along in the waters of British Columbia's Okanagan Lake as an endurance swimmer from the United States got closer to his goal.
Support crews for 39-year-old triathlete Adam Ellenstein say he had completed 72 kilometres of his planned 105-kilometre swim from Okanagan Landing south to Penticton by Tuesday morning.
Ellenstein began the marathon just before 6 a.m. Monday and remained on track to complete the crossing in less than 40 hours.
The swimmer from Detroit hopes to claim the Guinness World Record for the fastest, non-stop, lengthwise swim of the lake.
In a Facebook post, Ellenstein's team say he passed Rattlesnake Island, on the east side of Okanagan Lake, at 8 a.m.
He has dedicated the swim to increasing awareness of Parkinson's disease, because his aunt was recently diagnosed with the illness.
"Adam requested a bacon-and-egg sandwich overnight, as well as fresh pancakes," says Ellenstein's crew via regular social media updates.
A crew of 20 is accompanying the swimmer and providing him with food and support during the attempt.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2016