Difference between revisions of "Jason Zirganos"
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| − | [[Jason Zirganos]] | + | [[Jason Zirganos]] ([[Greek language|Greek]] Ιάσων Ζηργάνος), was a Greek army major, decorated by [[King Paul]] in [[1949]] for being the first Greek ever to swim the English Channel. |
| − | He died in [[1959]], after he unsuccessfully attempted to swim the notorious 23-mile North Channel between Northern Ireland and Scotland (the Irish Sea). Within three miles of the coast he lost consciousness | + | Zirganos was born in [[1910]] in [[Volos]], [[Thessaly]], one of ten children in a large family. He saw action in [[World War II]] against the Italians and was decorated for valour. In [[1949]], he swam the English Channel for the first time. On [[August 22]], [[1950]], once again he successfully swam the English Channel, beating his 1949 time by more than two hours (16hrs 19mins).<ref>Time Magazine: [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,856688,00.html The Big Swim] - Monday, Sep. 04, 1950</ref> |
| + | On [[16 August]] [[1951]] he did even better, completing the same crossing in 14hrs 1min. | ||
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| + | Zirganos also successfully swam the [[Bosphorus]], the Nile and twice swam around Manhattan island, New York. | ||
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| + | He died in [[1959]], after he unsuccessfully attempted to swim the notorious 23-mile North Channel between Northern Ireland and Scotland (the Irish Sea). Within three miles of the coast he lost consciousness<ref>Irish Times: [http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0110/1231515467429.html Crawling through the creepy Amazon]</ref> and died despite the efforts of a doctor who cut him open with a borrowed penknife to massage his heart.<ref>Sports Illustrated: [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1075301/index.htm The Jolly Giant Of The Sea] - October 21, 1963</ref> | ||
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Latest revision as of 22:24, January 11, 2009
Jason Zirganos (Greek Ιάσων Ζηργάνος), was a Greek army major, decorated by King Paul in 1949 for being the first Greek ever to swim the English Channel.
Zirganos was born in 1910 in Volos, Thessaly, one of ten children in a large family. He saw action in World War II against the Italians and was decorated for valour. In 1949, he swam the English Channel for the first time. On August 22, 1950, once again he successfully swam the English Channel, beating his 1949 time by more than two hours (16hrs 19mins).[1] On 16 August 1951 he did even better, completing the same crossing in 14hrs 1min.
Zirganos also successfully swam the Bosphorus, the Nile and twice swam around Manhattan island, New York.
He died in 1959, after he unsuccessfully attempted to swim the notorious 23-mile North Channel between Northern Ireland and Scotland (the Irish Sea). Within three miles of the coast he lost consciousness[2] and died despite the efforts of a doctor who cut him open with a borrowed penknife to massage his heart.[3]
- ↑ Time Magazine: The Big Swim - Monday, Sep. 04, 1950
- ↑ Irish Times: Crawling through the creepy Amazon
- ↑ Sports Illustrated: The Jolly Giant Of The Sea - October 21, 1963