Karolina Szczepaniak: 72 hours in the water and a world record!
Stunts that on the surface look like sports, but turn out to be still psychology and logistics in one, seasoned with a third day without sleep. Karolina Szczepaniak, a two-time Olympian, attempted the swim in Warsaw for 72 hours continuously at the AWF pool, improving on his earlier 48-hour result. It was a demonstration not only of form, but also of determination, patience and resilience, which cannot be „trained in a week.”.
The event also had a strong social dimension: it was accompanied by a charity collection for 11-month-old Amelka, a ward of the Open Arms Foundation. According to media reports, it was possible to collect about 35 thousand zlotys.
Not just muscles, the power of strength and mind.
In such trials, it's the details that determine the outcome: nutrition strategy, micro-regeneration, pace control, routine, and most importantly, the team that keeps an eye on things invisible to spectators - from the fluid supply plan to mental support to logistics and safety. It is this „invisible team” that makes it possible for an athlete to do something that looks like pure magic from the sidelines.
After completing the trial, Karolina pointed out something that was surprising to many people and especially to her: despite the extreme stress and lack of sleep, she maintained stability of perception and cognitive function, unlike in the earlier trial.
„I was surprised that during those 72 hours I didn't have hallucinations...”
Karolina Szczepaniak, 2026-09-03
3 days with continuous exertion, with swimming, without a single moment of downtime, downtime only for physiological needs + food well and possibly a massage. Because the effort for the body is baffling, everything is acidified, the muscles hurt terribly....
Tom Ziminski, „POWER OF DREAMS.”
In the world of ultra sports it is said that the 36th hour can talk to a person in its own way. With efforts lasting dozens of hours without sleep, perceptual disturbances and loss of concentration often occur, so such a relationship can indicate very good physical and mental preparation and an effective team support strategy.
Molecular hydrogen in the pipeline: cautious about proposals, honest about possibilities
Carolina's preparations also included molecular hydrogen, for two weeks prior to the feat, and recovery. Competitive sports are increasingly looking for tools that can support the body's recovery from tremendous stress, especially when fatigue, stress and overload at the cellular level are involved.
It's worth being clear: it's impossible to attribute causality („it's because of this”) on the basis of a single story, because, as we pointed out earlier, the course of such a feat is affected by many variables at once: training, nutrition, lack of sleep, strategy, experience and the work of the entire team. At the same time, it cannot be ruled out that elements of preparation, including hydrogen, may have played a role, as hydrogen is being studied in neuroscience as a potential support for processes related to oxidative stress and inflammation. This is an area that is still evolving and requires large, well-designed studies, which is why we at ANEV stick to a data-driven (EBM) approach and responsible communication.
„Thus, it can be a good addition to the lifestyles of white-collar workers exposed to prolonged stress and mental strain.”
ANEV team
What's next. Baltic.
Carolina is not stopping at the pool. The next target is crossing the Baltic, a challenge that requires even more humility towards nature, planning and team precision. We, too, will be drawing lessons from this project: analyzing what worked best, what can be improved, and how to even better support the athlete in preparation for the extreme effort.
We keep our fingers crossed and invite you to cheer for Karolina, because stories like this are a reminder that boundaries are not always a wall. Sometimes they are just a line that can be crossed ... if you are ready and have a masterful assistant.
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