7th March 2008
James Cracknell and David Walliams have done it!

The dynamic duo successfully swam the shark-infested Strait of Gibraltar - bringing to an end the James’s mammoth journey from the UK to Africa under his own steam.

Setting off at 09:00 (GMT) the pair made the arduous 12 mile journey from Tarifa in southern Spain to Punta de Cires in Morocco in the impressive time of 4 hours and 36 minutes.

In an eventful crossing, the pair encountered a pod of whales, David was overcome with sickness and Theo Paphitis from Dragons Den arrived in his yacht to show his support.

The journey was the final stage of Cracknell’s Cross-Continent Challenge which has already seen the Olympian row 22 miles across the English Channel and cycle a staggering 1395 miles through France and Spain in only six and a half days!

The former Olympic champion slept less than five hours a night, cycled for 18 hours a day and battled huge blisters on his bottom as a result – in a bid to travel from the UK to Africa using only his own body strength.

The ultimate aim of this incredible challenge is to raise as much money as possible for Sport Relief and the public can show their support by sponsoring James now at http://www.challengecracknell.com

Cracknell’s Cross-Continent Challenge in Numbers:

Miles travelled: 1,460
Total time taken: 10 days
Longest daily distance: 300 miles
Time in the saddle: 108 hours
Calories burned: 60,000
Rotations of bike wheel: 3.1 million
Hours slept: 50 hours
Hours awake: 190 hours
Capsized: once
Max speed: 60 mph
Bowls of Rice: too many to count !