Manchester swimmers set to cross the Yangtze River

Tuesday, 11 July 2017 16:00

Photo Credit - China National Tourist Office

Two young Manchester marathon swimmers are gearing up for the experience of a lifetime, as they prepare to swim across the Yangtze River in China later this month.

Ashley Hogg and Alana Hedges, from the City of Manchester Swim Team, will be competing in the International Yangtze River Swimming Event, which is renowned as one of the toughest tests for elite marathon swimmers anywhere in the world.

The race has taken place annually in Manchester’s sister city, Wuhan, for more than 40 years, with athletes testing themselves against a strong current to cross the 1.8km-wide river.

The duo are specialist open water swimmers and train together seven days per week at the Manchester Aquatics Centre.

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