- Abdul Malik Mydin
Dato Abdul Malik Mydin (born 1975) is a
Malaysia n solo long-distance swimmer, hailing fromPenang . He was notable as the first Malaysian andSoutheast Asia n to swim across theEnglish Channel on August 3, 2003, successfully completing the journey in 17 hours and 42 minutes.Athletic career
Abdul Malik was a relatively athletic swimmer, who finished fifth in a 26km race across
Lake Zurich inSwitzerland in August 2002, among 22 international swimmers.Malik had also conducted several solo swims locally, including swims between
Penang and the mainland (7.8km to 12km), Pulau Besar toMersing (18km), andKuala Perlis toKuah (48km, in 14 hours)English Channel swim
Abdul Malik announced his intention to swim across the
English Channel in May 2003, setting a target of 18 hours to swim 32.8km from England to France in July or August, and receiving coaching and advise from John van Wisse, anAustralia n coach. The swim was initially delayed to late-July due to weather, and was finally organised on August 3.During preparations of the cross channel swim, Malik was originally intended to start from Shakespeare Beach, but was advise by navigator Mike Oram to start from Abbots Beach in
Dover ,England . The cross channel swim saw Malik flagged off at Abbots Beach at 2.02am, local time (9.02am, Malaysian time, August 3), stroking at a consistent pace and stopping only for feeds at 20 minute intervals.Malik reached
Cap Gris Nez inCalais ,France at 8.42pm French time (7.42pm, British time; 2.42am Malaysian time, August 4), completing the swim in 17 hours and 42 minutes, just 18 minutes less Malik's 18 hour target. He claimed that windy weather during the last kilometres of his swim hampered attempts to finish his swim hours earlier.He was hailed by supporters as a national hero upon his return to Malaysia on August 9.
Present life
He now serves as the chairman of Airport Limo Malaysia, which provides
airport limousine services.References
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ee also
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Azhar Mansor
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