Dominican world record-holder swims to raise money for poor sick Dominican children

Marcos Diaz went through 22 consecutive hours of swimming around Manhattan and finally came ashore on Sunday.

Photo: Dominican world record-holder swims to raise money for poor sick Dominican children

The Dominican world record-holder had a goal for his marathon overnight swim: To raise money for poor Dominican children with cancer and start a program for youngsters with asthma. Diaz, 32, battled asthma as a child by swimming in Caribbean waters.

He circled the island - which is about 13 miles (20 kilometers) long and 2 miles (3 kilometers) wide at its widest - twice and finished the 60-mile (96-kilometer) swim at the Dyckman Marina in the Washington Heights neighborhood, which is the heart of New York's Dominican community.

Diaz walked out of the water smiling after 22 hours, 14 minutes of swimming. He was welcomed by thousands of people and a Dominican feast featuring live music.

In 2005, Diaz set the speed record between two continents when he crossed the Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and Morocco both ways in 8 hours, 34 minutes. He's also a two-time winner of the Toroneos Gulf Crossing in Greece, and has swum across the English Channel.