"Tsanko succeeded! 108 km and 250 m in the Danube River! 18 hours, 12 minutes and 32 seconds! Without stopping! Hero! Unique! He is already on the Kozloduy coast in good health," Nikolay Iliev wrote on Facebook, NOVA reported.
"It was extremely difficult from the beginning because of the lowered level of the Danube River. There were many kilometers above that should not have been done. With a lot of effort, with extraordinary will, incredible zest in the last meters, he went through several severe physiological crises with severe pain in his shoulders, knees, legs – Tsonko gritted his teeth until the last meter and managed to finish. The feeling is indescribable! I thank the people of Kozloduy who have gathered here to welcome us, including a children's folk ensemble. Fatigue is cruel, but the joy of success is worth it, and we did it for Bulgaria," Iliev said afterwards.
In his words, an achievement of 100 kilometers has never been registered in the Danube River – neither a Bulgarian nor a foreign swimmer. "This is a historic success on Union Day. Bulgaria can be proud of Tsanko Tsankov", he added.
"The World Federation was following us online all the time, we sent a signal every hour, the Ruse traffic tower was following us all the time,", explained Iliev. According to the coach, a certificate will be issued in the next few days to certify that the achievement is according to all the rules of the world federation, and added: "As soon as the swim is finished, they told us – congratulations, this is a great success for you, rejoice, Bulgarians!"
"This is a record, but also a historic achievement – "No one before Tsanko had swum a similar distance of 108 kilometers and 250 meters along the Danube," Iliev said proudly.
"I am extremely happy that I was able to successfully complete this 100 km swimming marathon between Vidin and Kozloduy according to the rules of the World Open Water Swimming Federation, and I am proud that we were able to do it in one of the best Bulgarian holidays. "I think that sport is one of the few things that unites us as Bulgarians nowadays," said the swimmer.
He dedicated his success to his family, those closest to him and all his compatriots, because "today is a holiday for all Bulgarians".