Legendary Korean swimmer plans to paddle to Japan again

SEOUL, April 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean veteran swimmer Cho Oh-ryun said Tuesday
he will again swim from the Korean Peninsula to Japan next year, commemorating
the 30th anniversary of his first swim across the Korea Strait in 1980.
"I plan to make another go on Aug. 15 next year to celebrate the 30th anniversary
of my first successful attempt to cross the Korea Strait. I will start training
next month on Jeju Island," Cho, the four-time Asian Game gold medalist, told
Yonhap.
He crossed the 55 kilometer-long strait between Busan, South Korea's
second-largest city, and the Japanese island of Tsushima in 13 hours and 16
minutes in his last attempt.
This year he aims to swim some 80 kilometers from Geoje Island, west of Busan, to
the Japanese island in around 16 to 18 hours.
"I want to look back on my life. I will show that age is nothing but a number,"
the 57-year-old swimmer said. "I'm determined to accomplish my goal."
Cho also successfully swam across the Dover Strait between England and France in
1982 and swam around South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo 33 times in 2008.
brk@yna.co.kr
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