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Finnish woman to attempt record swim across Bay of Bothnia to Sweden
🇫🇮 Finland /Sports

Finnish woman to attempt record swim across Bay of Bothnia to Sweden

From Helsingin Sanomat · () Finnish

Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Kristiina Kangastalo-Hoda, 47, plans to swim from Finland to Sweden across the Bay of Bothnia on July 10, a feat no woman has accomplished before.
  • The 150-kilometer swim from Siikajoki to Luleå is expected to take five days, with a support team accompanying her.
  • Kangastalo-Hoda is motivated by a growing passion for swimming, having previously completed a swim across the Siikajoki river.

Kristiina Kangastalo-Hoda, a 47-year-old mother of three from Loimaa, is preparing for an extraordinary challenge: swimming from Finland to Sweden across the Bay of Bothnia. Scheduled for July 10, this ambitious endeavor has never been undertaken by a woman before.

Her journey will begin at Simppusäikkä in Siikajoki and cover approximately 150 kilometers, aiming for Luleå in Sweden. Kangastalo-Hoda anticipates the swim will take about five days, provided favorable conditions. She plans to swim around 30 kilometers daily, supported by a six-person crew on a sailing boat and kayaks.

Despite the inherent risks, including cold water temperatures, seasickness, and the presence of seals, Kangastalo-Hoda expresses confidence in her ability to succeed. This monumental swim follows her previous accomplishment last summer, where she swam the entire length of the Siikajoki river. The saying "hunger grows as you eat" seems to aptly describe her increasing passion and drive for swimming challenges.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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