Location
Strait of Gibraltar, Spain to Morocco
Date
August 15, 2002
Distance
14 km
About This Swim
In 2002, James became the first Australian to swim the Strait of Gibraltar, crossing from Spain to Morocco across one of the world's most strategic waterways.
The Strait of Gibraltar is one of the world's most strategic and challenging waterways, connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. In 2002, James Pittar became the first Australian to swim across this historic strait from Spain to Morocco.
This swim presented unique challenges including strong currents created by the meeting of two major bodies of water, heavy shipping traffic, and the psychological challenge of swimming between two continents. As the first blind person to complete this swim, James demonstrated exceptional courage and determination.