Leaving on April 2 from Pomos Municipal Beach, in the west of Cyprus, Julien Mevel arrived at midday in Finikoudes after swimming 280 kilometers.
A Frenchman living in Cyprus completed his 280 km swim around the Mediterranean island in 28 days on Saturday, taking up a personal challenge which also allowed him to raise funds for charities. Leaving on April 2 from Pomos municipal beach (west), Julien Mevel arrived at midday in Finikoudes (southeast), the last stage of the “Cyprus swim tour” (“swimming circuit in Cyprus”) in the southern part of the divided island, the northern third of which has been occupied since 1974 by the Turkish army.
“Everything went very well except for three slightly more delicate or even dangerous stages,” the 40-year-old swimmer told AFP, who put on his wetsuit and flippers every morning, pulling a board with a rope attached to his belt. board on which were attached two paddles and a bag with some belongings. “During the passage around Akrotiri, there were huge waves of two meters, it was difficult. Between the rocks and the waves, the fatigue and the wind complicated this eight-hour stage”, added this man originally from Saint-Brieuc (north-west of France).
After each stage, the Frenchman slept in his van driven by a friend who helped him with supplies. During events organized along the route, such as cleaning the beaches in Kourion and a conference to raise awareness of the effects of climate change, Julien Mevel raised a total of some 3,000 euros which will be donated to Generation for change, an NGO defense of vulnerable and marginalized communities. “I chose this association for the seriousness of its management and for the main cause that is close to my heart, namely the reception and assistance to refugees”, he underlines.
The Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state, has seen a massive influx of migrants in recent years, mostly Syrians fleeing the war in their country, located less than 100 km from the Cypriot coast.