WASHINGTON– Today, Congressman James L. Oberstar, along with Slovenian Ambassador Davorin Kracun recognized the efforts of Martin Strel, a Slovenian marathon swimmer who completed a 68-day, 2,400-mile swim down the Mississippi River on September 9th. Congressman Oberstar has introduced a resolution honoring Mr. Strel for becoming the first person to swim the entire length of the Mississippi River in a single attempt.

Mr. Strel began his record-breaking effort on July 4th from Lake Itasca, Minnesota, and he swam twelve hours a day until he reached the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana. Mr. Strel eclipsed his own world record for the longest swim, set when he swam all 1,866 miles of Europe's Danube River in 2000. He dedicated the swim down the Mississippi River to the ten-year anniversary of the United States' recognition of Slovenia and to the victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks.

"I am pleased to congratulate Martin Strel in person for his historic athletic achievement as the first person to swim the length of the Mississippi River, and the resolution I introduced today recognizes Mr. Strel for his courage, determination and pioneering spirit as he succeeded in this great human endeavor," Oberstar said. "His feat is especially meaningful to me, because the Mississippi River flows through most of the Eighth Congressional District. And, as an American of Slovenian ancestry, I am immensely proud Mr. Strel’s accomplishment."

Mr. Strel averaged eleven to twelve hours a day swimming the Mississippi River and covered nearly 35 miles a day as he swam through the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

"Mr. Strel endured considerable hardships during this extraordinary achievement. He was almost struck by lightening near Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and he was nearly pulled under by a whirlpool near Greenville, Mississippi," Oberstar said. "Mr. Strel called his swim of the Mississippi River the Eye-to-Eye project, because it represents his personal battle against the Mississippi River, and it also represents Slovenia’s friendship with the United States."