The emblematic Bulgarian swimming coach BorislavGeorgiev will receive an anniversary commemorative trophy.
In 2024, the 60th anniversary of the mythical “Varna – Odessa” swimming marathon will be celebrated, in which BorislavGeorgiev from Varna was the youngest participant – he successfully swam it at only 16 years old.
The anniversary cup is a special surprise for the legendary coach at PSK “Cherno More”.The organizers of the “Galata – Varna” marathon will arrange it for him.It will be presented to him during the gala awarding ceremony for the winners of the 84th edition of the swimming competition on August 4th.
Sixty years after the event, the “Varna-Odessa” marathon continues to respect and arouse wonder today.
On July 15th, 1964, twelve brave men from Varna jumped into the Black Sea from the central bridge in the maritime capital.They arrive in Odessa on July 23th before noon, after swimming a record 502 km.Each of the swimmers jumps four times in one day.During the relay swim, each of the participants covered a total of 42 – 45 km, and was in the water 4 times a day for 30 minutes. 90% of the distance was covered in crawl style, and 10% – with breaststroke.
BorislavGeorgiev’s coach, MilkoRachev, gives the idea for the historic event.It was he who organized the world’s longest non-stop open water swimming marathon on the Varna-Odessa distance of 502 km, which was completed in 7 days by 12 of the swimmers he trained – elite Bulgarian marathon swimmers.
“He was a great innovator.Every day different, bizarre ideas came to him.In 1963, BatiMilko wanted us to swim across the Danube – from the springs to the Black Sea.This idea, however, did not materialize, as we had to go through capitalist countries, and at that time this was not possible”, says Georgiev.
During the swim, the ship “Nikola Vaptsarov” determines the direction.A boat and rowing boat are also available.The historic event took place after the personal consent and approval of Admiral Ivan Dobrev – Strandjata, at the request of the legendary Varna swimming coach MilkoRachev.Heroes in the difficult mission are the swimmers PetarStranchevsky, BorislavGeorgiev, Dimitar Statev, PetarPanayotov, HaralampiKalchev, BozhkoBonev, BlagoiValnaev, MilenTodorov, Dr. HristoOdjakov, Dr. Nikolai Gavrikov, ArdashBedrosyan and Ivan Yankov-Chikata.
A curious detail is that Rachev planned the marathon to take place 5 years earlier, but Admiral Ormanov countered him with the words: “Do you want to kill everyone in these sea storms?”.Subsequently, Strandjata took a risk because he himself is a swimmer and knows well what prestige this event would bring to the Bulgarian Navy.
Already at the beginning, near the town of Kavarna, the swimmers were caught by a storm.The waves were very high and strong.Then BlagoiValnaev, who was a very strong swimmer and knew perfectly well that under these difficult conditions, the distance could only be overcome by swimming sideways, threw himself into the water.After two hours the sea calmed down and it was smooth as glassuntil Odessa.Dolphins calmly swam next to the marathon runners.
The marathon was so tough that one of the participants – PetarStranchevski, lost weight by 7 kg.
The youngest participant in the swim to Odessa is BorislavGeorgiev.At that time, he was only 16 years old.
Today, from the distance of time, BoretoGeorgiev returns the tape to remember that the marathon was marked by a series of vicissitudes.Where the Danube river flowed into the sea, the current was terribly strong, and this forced the swimmers to stay in one place for a long time.
On Romanian territory, customs officials expressed concerns about the presence of mines and, for security reasons, pushed the ship “Nikola Vaptsarov” into the sea.
“To swim across the sea is no easy task, especially at night – you’re in the middle of the sea and you can’t see the shore!”An abyss opens before you and you cannot help but be afraid, but none of us dared to admit it.And me too”, brings back the tape of memories to swimming.bg, the coach of the swimming champion of Bulgaria PSC “Black Sea” – BorislavGeorgiev.
The youngest participant in the “Varna-Odessa” marathon admits that he experienced incredible stress when he came across a dead dolphin in the water: “It was very stressful, I was startled. You are swimming and suddenly your body touches something in the water. You have no ideawhat is it, the feeling is very strange. ThenIrealizedthatitwasadeaddolphin”.
Incredibly touching and full of joy and excitement were the moments when the marathon swimmers were greeted by a huge crowd of excited people on Komsomolsky beach in Odessa.Thebeachwascrowded.
“The shore was barely visible and the sea was as smooth as a mirror.The whole town was waiting for us – the local people were happy for us and greeted us warmly”, says Georgiev.The local Ukrainian television “Intervizia” made an extensive reporting about the Bulgarian marathon swimmers who crossed the Black Sea and thus immortalized the unique event.
Desimira TONCHEVA
Photos: PSC “Black Sea” and Personal archive of BorislavGeorgiev
