The swimmer who battled through piranha waters for 66 days to conquer the Amazon River: Martin Strel S3:E10

At 52 years old, endurance swimming legend Martin Strel set out on one of the greatest adventure feats in human history – to swim the entire length of the Amazon River. Battling exhaustion, treacherous currents, parasites, piranhas and mental collapse, Martin’s 66-day journey pushed the limits of physical and psychological resilience. But this was never just about a personal challenge – it was a mission to raise awareness about the destruction of one of Earth’s most vital ecosystems, all while sporting a yellow pillowcase on his head. In this episode, I speak with Martin about what drove him to attempt this near-impossible swim, how he has stayed alive in some of the world’s most dangerous waters, and why he believes endurance swimming can be a force for change. From his unconventional beginnings in Slovenia to the heart of the Amazon rainforest, Martin’s story is one of grit, survival and deep connection with nature – proving that sometimes, the most powerful strokes are taken for something far greater than yourself. Follow Martin on Instagram. If you want to tell us about your own superhuman adventures, message us at superhuman@redbull.com. Head to instagram.com/redbulladventure for more superhuman adventure content.

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The swimmer who battled through piranha waters for 66 days to conquer the Amazon River: Martin Strel S3:E10 is an episode from How to Be Superhuman by Red Bull.

This episode is 32:39 long.

This episode was published on Jun 12, 2025.

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