Alina is first person to swim Great Glen
She comes from a landlocked county and only took to her sport four years ago, but now Shropshire's Alina Warren is hoping to be a world record holder after becoming the first person to swim the whole of the Great Glen Way in Scotland.
She comes from a landlocked county and only took to her sport four years ago, but now Shropshire's Alina Warren is hoping to be a world record holder after becoming the first person to swim the whole of the Great Glen Way in Scotland.
The 19-year-old open water endurance swimmer from Stanton Upon Hine Heath, near Wem, made waves in her sport when she swam from coast to coast across Scotland over eight gruelling days this month.
Usually the route between Fort William and Inverness is completed on foot or by bike. But now Alina is waiting to hear if her endeavours, which saw her swim for about 75 miles (120km) down icy lochs and fast-flowing rivers, have made history.
Her epic journey needed two years' meticulous planning before she took the plunge because waterways bosses have banned people from swimming along canals.
Instead, Alina and father Chas planned an alternative route using rivers, including some with white water sections, that run parallel to the Great Glen. Along the way Alina swam through Lochs Ness, Oich, Dochfour and Lochy plus the Rivers Oich, Ness and Lochy.
The former Shrewsbury Girls High School pupil said: "We're waiting for the record attempt to be verified, but if it is confirmed I will be the first person ever to complete the Great Glen Way by swimming. It's a route that's never been swum before so the relief when I finished was amazing."
And her relief was even greater because when she first attempted the swim last year, she had to give up after falling ill with Weil's disease and blue green algae poisoning. This time she decided to swim it in chunks – leaving the most polluted waters until the end to minimise the risk of falling ill a second time. With a support team including a doctor, her father and friends, Alina said the sight of a swimmer taking on the route surrounded by kayak support boats caused a stir in the Highlands.
"People in yachts and canoes seemed to know about it from some radio coverage we had so they were really nice," she said.
Alina, who has just completed the first year of a child psychology degree at Aberystwyth University, said this time around she had to contend with the dreary Scottish summer with its heavy rain and strong winds.
Through sponsorship, Alina has raised about £1,600 for the RNLI by completing the swim. To pledge your support visit www.justgiving.com/Alina-Warren
