A 77-year-old pensioner has grow to be the oldest lady to swim the Strait of Gibraltar. 

Maria del Rosario Tomasena Alzuni, higher referred to as Txaro, from Gipuzkoa, northern Spain, swam the 10-mile journey from Tarifa to the Moroccan coast on Tuesday afternoon (July 18). 

She accomplished the problem in 6 hours and 23 minutes. The Strait of Gibraltar Swimming Association (ACNEG), which licensed the try, mentioned they'd “total admiration and respect” for the lady. 

She broke a file beforehand set in 2017 by the Argentinian Angela Elda Marchetti, who achieved the identical feat on the age of 69.

Incredibly, Txaro solely realized to swim on the age of fifty, based on Nius Diario, a Spanish publication, as a part of her rehabilitation programme after a automotive accident.

Speaking after her swim, the pensioner mentioned: “When I was young, I didn't do any physical activity, but when I met my husband, who was a keen mountaineer, we started hiking together. 

“We've seen the world on foot, we've been to the Himalayas twice, for example. 

“I needed rehabilitation and I started swimming to take care of my body.” 

The pensioner first received on a triathlon bike on the age of 69, 19 years after her crash, and has been a practising athlete since. 

The ACNEG has expressed its “total admiration and respect” for the swimmer “who has shown that it is never too late to achieve a dream”.

Brit Katherine Susan Steels-Fryatt, 52, efficiently swam the Strait of Gibraltar on June 23 this yr. 

She swam the crossing alongside two Romanians, Paul Eugen Dorin Georgescu, 44, and Fratila Serban-Florin, 50, and Australian Fiona Erin Cullinane from Australia, 21.

The 4 swimmers accomplished the 10-mile crossing with out carrying wetsuits in a time of three hours and 46 minutes. 

Additional reporting: Maria Ortega