Hong Kong-French swimmer Emeric Payer sets new HK360 circumnavigation record
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong-French swimmer Emeric Payer has broken the Hong Kong Island circumnavigation record, completing the grueling 45-kilometre HK360 route in 10 hours, 22 minutes and 59 seconds. The 21-year-old, who was once known for fading in longer distance events as a 50m freestyle sprinter, shaved 13 minutes off the previous overall record set by Waris Mills last year. Payer credited the HK360 team's logistical support as essential to his success, having registered for the challenge while still based in Europe.
Key Points
- Emeric Payer, 21, completed the HK360 route in 10:22:59, becoming the eleventh and youngest person to finish the official course
- The solo, unassisted swim on Monday saw Payer plunge into Victoria Harbour at 4am, circumnavigating all of Hong Kong Island
- Payer surpassed the previous record of 10:35:58 set by British-South African Waris Mills last year, and beat Alex Fong Lik-sun's 2019 men's record of 10:43:06 by over 20 minutes
- Despite swimming 20 hours weekly in high school as a 50m freestyle specialist, Payer was nicknamed "the fade" by coaches who joked about his endurance over longer distances
- Payer organized the attempt with help from the HK360 team led by Shu Pu, joining Southside Swimming in Hong Kong for two months of training before the swim
Why It Matters
The record-breaking swim highlights Hong Kong's growing appeal as a destination for open water swimmers, while also exposing the logistical challenges that solo swimmers face when attempting such feats without professional support networks .
The record-breaking swim highlights Hong Kong's growing appeal as a destination for open water swimmers, while also exposing the logistical challenges that solo swimmers face when attempting such feats without professional support networks .