British Swimmer to Try to Break Cold Water Distance Mark -- July 30, 2004

OSLO, Norway, July 30. BRITAIN'S Lewis Pugh, 34, will attempt to set a world record for cold water swimming next Monday when he enters the chilly waters of the 127.5 mile-long (204 km.) Sognefjord in Norway, the world's longesst fjord.

Pugh, a lawyer who has conquered the English Channel, will be swimming in 42 - 43F-degree water (6 Celsius). Making the swim even more difficult is the fjord's low salinity, which decreases buoyancy.

If Pugh -- who put on ten kilos (22 pounds) to provide himself with extra body fat for the swim -- manages to swim the entire length of the Sognefjord, from Skjolden to Eivindvik, he will have set a new world record in swimming in cold water. Cold water rules specifically prohibit the use of a wetsuit.

Pugh hopes to complete the swim in under three weeks.