Karteek Clarke (born Alexander Clarke, 26 August 1966) is an English Channel swimmer and ultra distance runner from Edinburgh, Scotland.[1]
 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 26, 1966 Edinburgh, Scotland, Great Britain |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Swimming |
Life
editClarke gained an MA Hons degree in psychology from the University of Edinburgh in 1989 and an LLB degree from the University of Glasgow in 2011. He has worked as an English teacher and as a freelance trainer in motivation and communications skills. Clarke credits studying meditation under Sri Chinmoy for the inspiration and encouragement to try and swim the channel.[2][3] Karteek is an Indian spiritual name given by Sri Chinmoy and means "warrior".[4]
He did not succeed on his first attempt at swimming the English Channel in 1994.[3] But, since then, has become the first Scottish person to complete more than two crossings and has now completed 11 crossings,[2][5] of the English Channel. Michael Oram, honorary secretary of the English Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation, said: "Very few people have swam the Channel more than ten times, and while Mr Clarke has his spiritual motivations, others are motivated by the challenge."[3]
Crossings of the English Channel
edit| Number | Year | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997 | 11:57 |
| 2 | 2000 | 14:52 |
| 3 | 2001 | 12:49 |
| 4 | 2002 | 10:53 |
| 5 | 2003 | 16:05 |
| 6 | 2005 | 16:13 |
| 7 | 2005 | 13:31 |
| 8 | 2006 | 16:18 |
| 9 | 2008 | 14:54 |
| 10 | 2009 | 16:49 |
| 11 | 2014 | 19:01 [2][6] |
References
edit- ^ karteekclarke.com: "About Karteek Clarke". 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- ^ a b c openwaterswimming.com: "Vegetarian Karteek Clarke In The Open Water". 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- ^ a b c scotsman.com:"Businessman hails yoga after completing tenth swim to France". The Scotsman. 20 August 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
- ^ westbriton.co.uk "Swimmers may be first to go to and from Gull Rock". 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ srichinmoyraces.org:"Karteek Clarke". 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- ^ dover.uk.com"Karteek Clarke - Channel Swimmer". 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.