Yesterday at the World Ice Swimming Championships in Tallinn, Estonia the Bulgarian swimmer Tsanko Tsankov won the gold medal in the 450 m freestyle. After winning the 200m freestyle and the bronze medal in the 25m butterfly, Tsanko managed to beat the competition and triumphed in the icy waters of the Baltic Sea. Today, in front of the Sport in Bulgaria Foundation, the swimmer shared his successes in the Baltic country and the upcoming swim across the Cook Strait, part of his goal to successfully complete all Ocean Seven Series events.

– Tsanko, how do you feel after a job well done by you at the World Ice Swimming Championships?

– I feel great. I fulfilled my goal of winning a medal at the World Championships. I am extremely happy that my hard work has been rewarded. I won 3 medals, two gold and one bronze. It is important to mention that the level of the competitors is rising and the competition is very serious.

– Tell us about the championship itself – what was the atmosphere like in the Estonian capital?

– More than 900 athletes from 41 countries took part in this world championship. There was huge interest in the competition from all over the world. The award ceremony for the 450m freestyle discipline was held in the Port Tallinn hall, where nearly 2,000 people witnessed the event, during which I was awarded my second gold medal. Slovakia’s Peter Plavec and Argentina’s Tomas Diaz were on the winner’s podium next to me.

– Tsanko, could you tell us what is coming up for you shortly? Where will be your next challenge in open water swimming?

– I’m going back to Bulgaria soon and will have very little time for recovery and rest. On the Bulgarian Black Sea coast I will start my preparation for the next challenge that awaits me – namely the swim across the Cook Strait, which is off New Zealand, in the Pacific Ocean. The event will be in early April and we will announce the exact date soon. I would like to say a special thank you for the support of the Sport in Bulgaria Foundation, for the opportunity to prepare, travel and face this next challenge for me. I believe I will succeed, as I did with the swim across the Catalina Strait.

The Cook Strait swim is part of the seven marathon races on the Ocean Seven circuit – the toughest open water swims officially certified by the World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA). So far, Tsanko has completed two of the seven marathons – the swim across the Strait of Gibraltar and the distance between the islands. Santa Catalina and Los Angeles. The swimmer’s goal is to become the first Bulgarian to complete all the marathon races in this series.