We were four swimmers, Two Continents, One Purpose.

My personal account of the Gibraltar Strait Swim the way I remember it while flying back home and with my current thoughts:

October 8, 2026 — From Tarifa, Spain, to Punta Cires, Morocco

We were four swimmers who crossed between two continents with one purpose.
I’m still processing what Enrique Flores, Luis Lopez, Juan Carlos Partida, and I accomplished on October 8, 2026.


Some swimming journeys are measured in kilometres, others in hours. The experiences I have had at this point in my life have taught me that the most meaningful journeys are measured by the lives we touch, the friendships we create and strengthen, and the memories that remain long after the end of an event or project.
On October 8, 2026, we accomplished something … that I realize is extraordinary. (Even when Luis and, in part, I do too, feel today that it was not that big of a deal, … but let’s wait until the coin truly drops.) 

At 9:28 a.m., the four of us jumped off the Columba vessel that transported us from the marina in Tarifa, Spain, to near the edge of the Isla de Palomas to touch the rocks at the southernmost point of Europe, to then start the swim we had been preparing for months. We entered the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar at 9:28, starting our 15.4-kilometre crossing to Punta Cires, Morocco. 

Accompanied as well by the Duende del Mar dinghy, we swam for 4 hours and 33 minutes before successfully reaching the African shore.
Even when it started simply as a story about swimming across one of the world's most iconic and challenging stretches of water because we believed we could, it became a story about friendship, perseverance, gratitude, and the belief that sport can become something much greater than a personal achievement.


Knowing how to swim is only the first baby step!

For us, swimming has been a defining part of our lives for decades. 
Each of us brought our own history, experience, and reasons for accepting the challenge of crossing the Strait.
Enrique, an accomplished marathon swimmer who crossed the English Channel in 2007, brought years of experience in long-distance swimming and a deep commitment to helping others. 

Luis, whose athletic journey began in Cuba as an elite springboard diver, brought the discipline of a lifetime devoted to sport. 

Juan Carlos, a former high-performance swimmer in Mexico and an international masters competitor, brought his competitive spirit and dedication to a cause close to his heart. 

I brought a passion for adventure and a longstanding belief that swimming can change lives.
Crossing the Strait demanded far more than physical fitness. It required preparation, patience, trust, and respect… A LOT of respect for the sea. Over the days before the swim, while training, there were times of doubt and profound discomfort… especially when we stupidly decided to swim along the rocks of the island… the walls created shadows that made it very uncomfortable to manage the mental part of that training, and yet, we did three loops!
Later on, we were told never to do that as it was very dangerous. Oops!

The water between Spain and Morocco is influenced by powerful currents, changing conditions, and heavy maritime traffic. 
The success of the crossing depended not only on our determination, but also on the experience and support of the crew accompanying us. And men, they are incredibly knowledgeable and wise, with an immense respect for the ocean and an outstanding safety protocol.
And, as with so many worthwhile challenges, the hardest part was not always knowing when the opportunity would come. Unfavourable weather had disrupted crossing plans throughout September. No one swimmer was able to cross over the entire month; the swimmers booked during September went home without their chance as the Strait said no to them. 
We were very fortunate; even when we had to wait for the right conditions, we know now that the Strait generously gave us a chance, and fortunately we were ready to take it and make our own luck. 

After the swim, when we had a chance to chat about our own perspectives of the experience, I was moved, surprised and relieved to learn how differently our emotions affected us, but no matter what, for the four of us it was overwhelming; the doubts and the question: Am I going to be able to really do this? was ever present. Every time the current changed, every time the water temperature dropped, every time we got separated, individually, we had the discipline to never, ever take it for granted, and we continued stroke after stroke, as slow as it was, knowing that the next stroke could be the last, so we took the next and the next until we reached the rocks at Point Cires. Only then were we overtaken by the ever elusive emotion of the satisfaction of accomplishing the goal.

When the ocean gave us a gift.

I believe that as every great adventure has its crisis, it also has its defining positive moments. 
Some arrive unexpectedly, reminding us that nature has a way of making even the most ambitious human achievements feel small.
A little beyond the halfway point, more than a dozen pilot whales appeared on the horizon and changed course to join the human swimmers for a while. These magnificent marine mammals shared the same waters with us, transforming an already extraordinary crossing into something almost impossible to describe.
I slowed down, wanting to take in the moment rather than simply swim past it.
Then three whales came remarkably close underneath me, an adult on either side and a baby in the middle. They appeared to smile, especially the baby whale, as if we were a great amusement.
Marine mammals, completely free in their own world, yet for a brief time, our paths crossed, making us experience something far more profound than reaching a destination. I was reminded of the privilege of being alive, of sharing this planet with other extraordinary creatures, and of the unexpected gifts that make certain experiences impossible to forget.
The encounter captured something essential that I always talk about in my sessions with the swimmers I coach: we enter the water with a goal, but we never control the experience entirely. We need to be flexible; we need to adapt and change to the demands of Mother Nature, as she will never adapt to us, and as Brian at work told me: she will spank you if you do not behave!
The sea can challenge us, humble us, surprise us, and sometimes offer moments of beauty that no training plan can ever anticipate.

More than just a long swim.

It took us 4 hours and 33 minutes to complete the crossing from Europe to Africa, covering 15.4 kilometres between Tarifa and Point Cires, which is the closest African point to Europe.
I thought it was needless to say that it was without the use of wetsuits, but I stood corrected and as this is a report, well it was no wetsuits! 

The reality is that this achievement took a lot longer than those 4 hours. Beyond the disciplined preparation in and on the water, there was hundreds of hours behind preparing the thousand details behind it. From choosing the name for the project (thank you, Santiago), to the enormous undertaking of raising awareness and funds for three organizations whose work changes lives in very different ways.
World Villages for Children works to break the cycle of poverty by providing children with education, care, and opportunities for a better future. For Enrique, supporting children living in extreme poverty is a deeply meaningful expression of gratitude and a commitment to giving back.
Maritere Foundation supports people with limited resources or no resources at all who are facing complications due to rheumatic ailments. They make treatment possible for them. The organization helps patients confront some of life's most painful circumstances.

Women's Habitat of Etobicoke, in Ontario, supports families affected by violence through programs that promote emotional well-being, personal development, and long-term stability. Luis and Miguel are supporting its work, particularly initiatives that give children access to sports and swimming lessons.
We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to live a safer, healthier, and more hopeful life.
This is still to turn the now-successful swim into an opportunity to draw attention to these causes and encourage others to contribute. 
Our crossing is a small sample of how an athletic challenge can become a platform for generosity, awareness, and meaningful community support.
The money raised is important, but so is the conversation the project creates.
Every person who hears this story, shares it, or chooses to donate helps extend the impact of the journey beyond the shoreline.

Is never the swimmer (s) alone who accomplish any project.

No successful open-water swim is ever accomplished by the swimmers alone.
Behind every stroke are people whose knowledge, dedication, vigilance, and quiet acts of support make the extraordinary possible.
The Columba and the Duende del Mar provided essential support, helping make the crossing possible under the guidance of an experienced escort crew.
The Columba, with its pilot Cristina, and Bea, the co-pilot, guided the navigation vessel, correcting and adjusting to every change in currents while still keeping us on the most direct line possible. Their knowledge, wisdom, professionalism and teamwork were invaluable. 
On the Duende del Mar, Luis, the navigator, Fernando, the official representing ACNEG, the Strait of Gibraltar Swimming Association and Katie White played an essential role in the team's execution success. 

ACNEG's experience in supervising these crossings is central to the successful completion of such a demanding undertaking. Fernando and Luis’s presence and guidance represented the expertise and responsibility required to manage a swim in one of the world's most challenging open-water environments.
Katie coordinated the swimmers' feeding and water intake; she ensured that we all received the hydration and nutrition needed to sustain the effort throughout the crossing. In marathon swimming, feeding is far more than passing a bottle or offering a quick snack. It requires careful timing, coordination, attention to each swimmer's needs, and an understanding of how to keep athletes fuelled without unnecessarily interrupting the rhythm.
Every feed matters. In our case, because of the currents, it was necessary to make sure that every feeding pause was less than a minute for the four of us so we wouldn’t be swept away by the water.
Every decision can make a difference. Katie's work helped us maintain the energy and focus required to complete the challenge. Her contribution was an integral part of the team's execution.

The Mare Nostrum Gibraltar Strait Swim Project would not have been possible without the generosity, encouragement, and trust of our sponsors and the many individuals who chose to become part of this adventure.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the Guelph Triathlon Club, our Silver Sponsor, for supporting this pursuit.
 
More than sponsorship, for Luis and me, this support represents the spirit of the triathlon community: people encouraging one another to push beyond their limits, embrace ambitious goals, and use sport as an inspiration and a force for good. 
Thank you for believing in this project.
To Royal Containers and Kim Nelson, our Bronze Sponsor, for her generosity and commitment to supporting athletes and meaningful community initiatives. Your contribution helped make the complex logistics of this crossing possible, from the escort vessels and experienced crew to the safety arrangements essential to an expedition of this nature. 

To the dozens of individuals who contributed to this project and chose to remain anonymous, whether through donations, words of encouragement, sharing our story, or simply reminding us that people were cheering us on, please know how much you mean to us. Every contribution mattered. Every gesture of support helped move us one step closer to Tarifa's shoreline, across the Strait, and toward our destination in Morocco.
Fundraising journeys are built one act of generosity at a time, just as long-distance swims are completed one stroke at a time. Every contribution matters when it becomes part of something greater than ourselves.
Without you, we wouldn’t be here.
To our friends, coaches, and training partners who stood beside us throughout the many months of preparation. Cesar, you are a very special coach, and without your guidance and support over all those sessions we worked together, finishing this swim simply wouldn't have happened. Thank you all for your daily support, shared effort, friendship, and the unwavering belief that we could make this a reality.

You know who you are; thank you for being part of this journey from the very beginning. Your encouragement helped us prepare not only physically, but also mentally, for the challenge.
To every single one of our Paddle and Gym training partners, you gave us space and helped us with the work behind the project, the demanding training sessions, the difficult days, and the determination required to keep moving forward. Your support went far beyond coaching; you were friends who shared our ambitions.

To Michelle Sauls and Ana Paula, for keeping Embrace Open Water going, thank you for everything you contributed throughout this journey. There were plans to coordinate, details to manage, fundraising efforts to sustain, and countless responsibilities that continued every day while the goal grew closer. 
Your partnership, friendship, and willingness to put up with me and contribute wherever needed helped carry this project forward. Your belief in what Embrace represents—and in the power of sport to make a difference—was an essential part of this.
As I am sharing thoughts, I am a visual person. Having an image in my mind is important to keep me going when the mental or emotional crisis creeps up. There was a particular day when Michelle was paddling with Michael on the same board, and Anna was on the other side making an escort flotilla for me. It was a happy training day, and that image helped me when I was getting uncomfortable with the pressure of staying together or having the boat too close or starting to feel the pain in my shoulder; that was the image that helped me smile again more than once. Thank you, guys.
Thank you for being there through the ordinary days that made this extraordinary adventure possible.
People will see images of us, the four swimmers standing together after reaching Morocco. What they won't see is the community that helped those four swimmers get there. The people who invested their time, shared their knowledge, offered their friendship, and continued believing in the project day after day.
But WE know we owed it all to you. Thank you, really.
A legacy beyond the water
There is something deeply moving about crossing a large body of water; I think that is why we keep doing it, especially when that body separates two continents.

But the most important distance we travelled may be the one that cannot be measured: the distance between a personal goal and a shared purpose, between athletic achievement and service to others, between imagining what might be possible and finding the courage and the way to make it happen.

We began this journey as four experienced swimmers pursuing an extraordinary challenge. 
We completed it as a team, and that is something I am very proud of; Juan Carlos could have dropped all of us, and we could have dropped Enrique, as we are in very different stages of physical fitness and swimming speeds; however, we stayed together, and now we have a story worth sharing and a mission that reaches far beyond the Strait of Gibraltar.

We swam because we wanted to, but with that we are also making an effort to help children who deserve a brighter future. 
We swam then, for families seeking safety and stability. 
We swam for young people facing illness and for the organizations working to support them.
Somewhere along the way, we were reminded that the ocean can offer gifts that no finish line can measure.
The greater gift is the opportunity to turn years of passion for swimming into something that can help others.
The crossing lasted 4 hours and 33 minutes. The memories will last a lifetime. And the hope is that its impact will continue long after the feeling of walking on a boat has settled.
Because the achievement was never simply reaching Morocco; we have swum more than 15 km multiple times before. The real achievement is giving the journey a purpose worth swimming for, with the enduring belief that when we embrace a challenge together, we can create ripples of change far beyond ourselves.