Medalla, Valencia complete Robben Island channel crossing in less than 3 hours
Betsy Medalla’s profile picture in her Facebook account.
MANILA, Philippines — They came, they saw, they conquered. Filipino athletes Betsy Medalla and Julyan Valencia triumphed in the 1st Filipino Robben Island Swim in South Africa Sunday.
Medalla clocked 2 hours and 34 minutes, way ahead of the 3-hour target, while Valencia crossed 2 hours and 52 minutes.
“Mission accomplished,” said Buddy Cunanan, event organizer and honorary consul of Georgia in the Philippines.
“Betsy had no problems. Julian suffered from hypothermia but recovered after one hour at Big Bay Lifesaving Club,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
The two swam 8.6 kilometers in waters 12 degrees Celsius to cross the Robben Island channel. They had one boat each and were supported by the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association.
Cunanan said that Cape Filipinos, whose ancestors came to South Africa in 1860, came in full force to support swimmers.
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