Kimbo Vallejo and Erika Villaécija both agree that the island is an open water paradise
Lanzarote’s glorious weather conditions are the perfect attraction for amateur and professional athletes to come to the island to enjoy some open water swimming. Two of Spain’s most successful swimmers, Kimbo Vallejo and Erika Villaécija, were recently swimming here together.
Juan Carlos Vallejo “Kimbo” got to know the island through a different passion of his: diving. “I came to the island many years ago to get all my diving qualifications, and I loved it”. The two-time Olympian (Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984) has recently moved to Lanzarote. “I had been thinking about coming to live on the island for a long time, but I finally made the decision after participating in the Travesía La Bocaina”. For Kimbo, the island is “a paradise for open water swimming due to its water temperature, climate and safety; what’s more, it also has great facilities for training in the pool”.
The truth is that I‘m delighted. This place is unique. It‘s amazing. When I was doing La Bocaina I realised that this is open-water paradise.
Juan Carlos remains very active, now combining pool swimming competitions – where he has just achieved a new Masters 60 world record in 400m freestyle in a regional competition – alongside open water crossings. After several months living on the island, Kimbo says: “the truth is that I am delighted. This place is unique”.
Here in Lanzarote, we have incredible swimming pool facilities so we can swim all year round – in a 50-metre outdoor pool with a fantastic temperature.
Anyone who has the chance should come to Lanzarote for a few days to relax and just train and do sport. You have to try it because there’s no way you’ll regret it.
Erika spent a week on the island, participating in a swim camp and in one of the open water swimming events held on the island. “Swimming is part of my life. I still compete, but I approach it differently now that I am at Masters level. I am more relaxed and I aim to have fun.” Erika also highlights the perfect conditions offered by the island for practicing her sport.
“It’s a luxury to be able to swim in crystal clear waters, seeing lots of fish, at ideal temperatures”.
Erika says that the “experience of swimming for several days with others, both beginners and advanced swimmers, was very positive, because we shared many great moments together and we learned from one another”. Finally, Villaécija says that “anyone who has the chance to come to Lanzarote for a few days to relax and do some sport should give it a try, because they won’t regret it”.
