An adventure travel enthusiast who has explored the world will be among the participants in the 86th edition of the Galata–Varna Swim Marathon. ZhivkoVenkov lives and works in the United Kingdom, and every summer, when he returns to his hometown of Varna, he never misses the opportunity to experience the excitement of this iconic sea event.
“I come back with great excitement and enthusiasm year after year to immerse myself in the incredible atmosphere of the Galata–Varna
Zhivko and his lovely wife, Ralitsa, are passionate travellers who have visited more than 60 countries around the world.
The lives of the Venkov family are like a necklace of precious gems, each shining in its own vibrant colour. Zhivko, Ralitsa, Annabel and Rain are all devoted hikers, passionate explorers and enthusiastic mountain climbers. Travelling to exotic destinations across the globe has become the family’s trademark.
In Bulgaria, they have climbed the country’s highest and most famous peaks, including Musala, Vihren, Botev and Malyovitsa. Together, the entire family successfully summited Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m), when their son Rain was only ten years old and his sister Annabel was twelve.
Their impressive list of achievements also includes Breithorn (4,164 m), Mount Fuji (3,776 m), Gran Paradiso (4,061 m) and the majestic Aconcagua (6,967 m). They also attempted Mont Blanc, reaching an altitude of 4,200 metres before being forced to abandon the climb because of adverse weather conditions.
Zhivko has taken part in the Galata–Varna Swim Marathon thirteen times. Every year he prepares with tremendous enthusiasm and openly admits that participating in the event brings him immense joy and unforgettable emotions. Besides open-water swimming, he is also passionate about road running and marathon racing, with his most recent marathon being in Dubai.
“I’m happy that together we fulfilled two of my biggest dreams—we crossed the Andes on horseback from Argentina to Chile and went skydiving in Australia! We also had unforgettable experiences at a panda conservation reserve in China and while watching an incredible orca show,” says Zhivko’s wife, Ralitsa Venkova.
