OUR TEAM


Strel Swimming Adventures was founded in 2010 with passion, enthusiasm, and love for open-water swimming. Our founders Martin and Borut Strel (father and son) have extensive experience in running open-water swimming projects. They have organized some of the most challenging swimming expeditions in recent history and received global recognition.

Martin, known as the legendary Big River Man, is a Guinness World Record marathon swimmer and only man in the history to have swum the 5 greatest rivers on the planet: the Amazon, Yangtze, Paraná, Mississippi, and Danube. Martin is currently preparing his new swimming expedition for 2021 and we will make sure you are informed when it’s happening. Borut, an experienced swimmer himself, has been working with Martin as a project manager and expedition leader for several years. Together, they have an incredible breadth of knowledge and experience in open-water swimming.

We are proud of our strong family tradition in the adventure swimming world. We look forward to welcoming you on our swimming adventure trips.

Martin Strel, Marathon Swimmer

Martin Strel Marathon Swimmer Martin is our inspirational visionary. His past marathon swimming challenges are highly respected and well-known. Martin accompanies some of the tours when his schedule permits, to share his experiences and to motivate you to maintain your swimming lifestyle. Check out Martin’s documentary Big River Man and his book: The Man Who Swam the Amazon.

Martin’s Books
Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca | Amazon.fr | Amazon.de
Fan Facebook Site | Facebook Profile

Websites: www.amazonswim.com or www.martinstrel.com.

 

Guinness World Records achieved by Martin Strel

Martin Strel Guinness World Record Swimming

martin_strel_guinness_swimmer

 

Human Limits – Martin Strel, Marathon swimmer – 7 min Documentary

Borut Strel, Guide

Borut Strel Swimming Guide Borut is an experienced swimmer and event organizer. As a youngster, he was racing internationally, and later on he began to work on the project management and guidance of his father’s swimming expeditions (world rivers: Danube, Amazon, Mississippi, Yangtze, Paraná, and the Adriatic Sea).

Borut also has significant experience in coaching and guiding swimmers at several locations across the Mediterranean, Lake Powell (Arizona), and Mexico. He is the driving force behind Strel Swimming Adventures and has passed on his vast experience to our guiding team to ensure that our tours are second to none.

Apart from running group tours, Borut has also guided several individual swimmers to help them achieve their goals, particularly in marathon swimming. Strel Swimming business has extensive expertise in several countries we operate trips and we own several boats across our trip locations. We can provide tailored swim guiding services in many countries.

Past guiding locations: Lake Powell (Arizona), Croatia, Montenegro, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Slovenia, Loreto and Bacalar (Mexico), Egypt (Red Sea)

 

Kate Steels, Guide

Kate Steels - Marathon Swimmer Kate is an experienced open-water marathon swimmer with several achievements. She became the third person in history to complete the Ice Sevens Challenge in 2021. The Ice Seven challenge means completing seven ice mile swims on seven continents where the water temperature is 5C or below. She also completed the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming in 2022. Triple Crown means completing three crossing swims: English channel crossing, Catalina channel crossing, and Manhattan Island marathon swim.

While guiding our trips in Loreto (Mexico) she did the entire circumnavigation of Coronado island (14.4 km in 4 hrs 1 min) in November 2022. Kate has been working with us in Slovenia, Croatia, and Mexico and is scheduled to return to Loreto, Mexico in October & November 2023. While at home in the UK, she is the chairperson of the International Ice Swimming Association Great Britain.

Past guiding locations: Mexico, Slovenia, Croatia

 

Todd Erickson, Guide

Todd Erickson Swimming Guide Todd is an experienced swimmer and coach. He is a certified TI (Total Immersion) coach since 2010 and Level 4 ASCA coach since 1998. He began competitive swimming at a younger age and has been involved in both competitive and recreational swimming for most of his life. Todd has vast experience in swim coaching, and our guests enjoy his top video analysis sessions.

His open water experience includes; SERC Alcatraz to Aquatic Harbor, Waikiki Rough Water, 8 Bridges Stages 1, 2 (DNF) and 3, English Channel Relay, TI6-all six are TI Coaches, English Channel attempt in 2016, 14.5 hrs, 35 miles but DNF by one mile. He has done several trips with us in Croatia, Lake Powell (Arizona), and Loreto (Mexico) and he is scheduled to guide our trips in May and October 2023 in Loreto (Mexico).

Past guiding locations: Lake Powell (Arizona), Croatia, Loreto (Mexico)

 

Anastasia Polito, Guide

Anastasia Polito Swimming Guide Anastasia is a Canadian national and has a professional triathlete and national swimmer background. Nowadays, she coaches triathletes, open-water swimmers, and endurance athletes as part of her coaching sessions. In the past, she raced as a part of Canada’s age group team at the World Championships in 1998 and began racing professionally on the International Triathlon Circuit in 2001. She reached several top 10 International results to her name including 6th at Canadian Nationals, and 9th at Ironman USA.

As part of her free time, she loves her dogs and practices yoga. She speaks fluent English, French, and Spanish and spends most of her time between Canada and Mexico.

She has worked with us in Loreto (Mexico) in 2022 and she is scheduled to return this year to Loreto and Bacalar trips in Mexico. Everyone enjoys Anastasia’s stroke reviews and comments.

Past guiding locations: Loreto (Mexico)

 

Diane Murphy-Weaver, Guide

Diane-Murhpy-Weaver-Strel-Swimming Diane is one of our European Guides. She is an experienced marathon-distance open-water swimmer with a passion for cold water. Diane has completed two English Channel relays and is an accomplished triathlete having competed in Europe, America, and Africa. Diane is a qualified swimming coach, and Open Water lifeguard and has taught and mentored learners from pool swimming to success in Ironman and Channel swimming. She lives in Buckinghamshire, England, and is a qualified sports massage therapist with her own practice.

Past guiding locations: Turkey (Kas, Bozburun, gulet swim cruises) and Croatia.

 

Laura Sharrod, Guide

Laura-Sharrod-Strel-Swimming Laura swims and plays water polo in England and now she guides with us at several locations including Croatia, Slovenia, Greece, Montenegro, and Turkey.

While not in the Mediterranean with us she works as a supply teacher in the UK – mainly in the winter months.

Past guiding locations: Croatia, Montenegro, Turkey, Greece, Slovenia

 

Angelo Tanfara, Boat captain, Croatia

Angelo grew up on the Krapanj island and is a skilled and experienced boat captain. He takes us out every day to our swimming locations and knows the local waters like the back of his hand. He is a fun loving and entertaining character who looks after us well in our daily expeditions. He has a dog named Diesel.

Past guiding locations: Croatia

 

Budomir Mandic, Boat captain, Montenegro

Budomir_Mandic_Montenegro-Strel-Swimming Budo is a proud owner of two beautiful wooden boats and works with us in Montenegro. He is a swimmer himself and works hard to make sure that our guests are all safe and happy. He is the proud father of world class water polo player, Dusan Mandic. If you are lucky he will sometimes show us his son´s Olympic and World Championship medals, won while competing for Serbia.

Past guiding locations: Montenegro

 

Petra Filipič, Guide

Petra-Filipic-Swimming-Strel Petra comes from a pool swimming background and nowadays spend lots of time coaching and training younger generations in Slovenia. She runs her own swimming school and works part time as a physical education teacher. In the summer she guides on our Slovenian Lake trips.

Past guiding locations: Croatia, Slovenia

 

Rusty Ruth, Captain & Guide (Lake Powell)

Strel_Swimming_Rusty-Rath Rusty is our local guide and boat pilot at Lake Powell. He knows the area better than anyone.

He spends most of his time at the Antelope Point marina and out on the lake guiding different tours. Lake Powell is so big that you need a great guide out there.

He will be the one telling you the local history, giving you tips what to see, as well as making sure we swim safe at the best spots. Rusty The Captain!

Past guiding locations: Lake powell, Arizona, Utah

 

Polona Maver, Customer support

Polona-Maver-Strel-Swimming Polona ensures that our office runs effeciently and that your bookings and phone calls are handled professionally.

She studied English and French at Ljubljana (Slovenia) University and now works as our customer support person. She speaks fluent English, French, Slovenian, Croatian and other Balkan languages.

She loves travelling and exploring new places all over the world. Her favourite places are always near water and with lots of sun! We are happy to have her in our team.