Miguel Arrobas (Team chaYmit) - "Never Give Up"

Open Water Swimmer

- Attorney/legal aid at Anacom

- Olympic Swimmer
- Married and father of 5

Miguel Arrobas began his swimming career as an infant. In 1992 he represented Portugal at the Barcelona Olympic Games, aged 17. Whilst showing great promise Miguel had to step down from competitive swimming before the '96 Olympics due to chronic ear problems.

Meanwhile he entered Law School at the Lusiada University in Lisbon.

After training with the water polo team for a few seasons Miguel left aquatic sports altogether and turned to Martial Arts and practiced Free Fighting during his last years at University and prior to passing his Bar exam.

In 2002 Miguel and Mariana were married and in 2003 Miguel took to the water again, this time as an Open water swimmer, a sport that was beginning to really take off in Portugal.

Although he trained hard to swim the 15km race of the 1st ever "Challenge" in Castelo de Bode in September 2003, a car accident at the end of August prevented him from being able to compete in that event and so he settled for a good placement in the 5km race.

It was during this season that talk of attempting a Channel Swim first began. Mariana's single condition was that if he were to attempt such a thing he should fundraise scholarships for the United World Colleges. Another aspect of open water swimming that Miguel has always made an effort to highlight is the importance of water quality and the conservation of marine ecosystems, for this he has been appointed Portuguese Ambassador for the Year of the Dolphin, a UN initiative for the Conservation of migratory Species.

Careful planning, intense training and the success of several unique crossings in Portuguese waters brought Miguel to the point where he was able to make a successful Channel crossing at his first attempt, obtaining the fastest time for 2008 at 9h30m for the swim between Samphire Hoe and Cap Gris Nez. This time also guaranteed him a place in the top 100 Channel crossings since Captain Matthew Webb.

In 2009 Miguel successfully swam across the Strait of Gibraltar.
Miguel is a very serious contender to the so far never achieved Oceans Seven.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Miguel
• Arrobas
• (Team
• chaYmit)
• Never Give Up

[RogerioCostaVerde]

There is a difference in speed (km / h) between the two great challenges. Why?

ENGLISH CHANNEL 34km t=9:30 km/h= 3,57895

STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR 20km t=3:32 km/= 5,66038