TENNESWIM 2017 Comes to Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – A world-record-holding endurance swimmer and professor of Medical and Life Sciences in Germany will be attempting to swim the entire length of the Tennessee River.

He says he’s doing it to bring awareness to aquatic plant life.

Dr. Andreas Fath starts the world record attempt of swimming 652 miles and finishes up in downtown Chattanooga.

But this is not the first time he has taken on a river. In 2014 he broke the world record for speed swimming the Rhine River from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea.

Fath discussed the science behind his record-breaking attempt during a special presentation at the Tennessee Aquarium. He wants to raise awareness about the importance of water quality and hopes to collect data on the Tennessee River.

Dr. Fath was joined by a group of Chattanooga Open Water Swimmers today for the last two miles of swimming into downtown Chattanooga.

The public was invited to meet Dr. Fath at the top of the Chattanooga Pier after his arrival.

Anyone can track his progress online with this link.

The next stop on his “swim for science” will be in Huntsville, Alabama. He is expected to arrive there on the 10th of this month.

Locking thru now. Dr Fath should be swimming into downtown @4PM. Come to the Pier to say, “Willkommen zu #Chattanooga!” #TenneSwim pic.twitter.com/wOJdV3CBNf

— Thom Benson (@thombenson) August 4, 2017

Quick break before finishing strong in #Chattanooga #TenneSwim pic.twitter.com/omTkPYt0Zy

— Thom Benson (@thombenson) August 4, 2017

*Photo from TN Aquarium