Series description
Across six days in July 2023, Leszek Naziemiec, a Polish adventurer and ice swimmer, became the first person to swim 250 km of the Yukon river from Eagle to Circle. With just swimming trunks, goggles, a cap, ear plugs and a safety buoy he swam every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., taking breaks to eat and warm up. After the challenge he explained how ‘I wanted to test myself; touch something original that we had lost. Contact with nature untouched by humans was an amazing experience.’
Biography
Photography appeared in my life while studying at the Faculty of Archeology. The first trip with a camera was from NY to Alaska, in 1991. In 1993, I started working as a photojournalist in the main Polish newspaper: Gazeta Wyborcza, and then in the weekly "Newsweek" Polish edition. I have been working as a freelancer for over 12 years. The most interesting documents were created during trips to Tibet, Africa, Chechnya, and in 2023 from Alaska and the Danube River.
Untitled
Leszek Naziemiec and the great Alaskan river. Every day he was lubricated with a cream to prevent abrasion.
© Piotr Sadurski, Poland, Shortlist, Professional competition, Sport, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
Untitled
The main current of the Yukon river runs along the high river bank. Fantastic rock formations accelerate the water flow to 12 km/h. It’s beautiful, but dangerous.
© Piotr Sadurski, Poland, Shortlist, Professional competition, Sport, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
Untitled
On the first day, Leszek managed to swim more than 50 km, but there was still a long way to go through the wilderness to reach his destination in Circle.
© Piotr Sadurski, Poland, Shortlist, Professional competition, Sport, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
Untitled
Leszek swam every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. He covered most of the distance swimming front crawl.
© Piotr Sadurski, Poland, Shortlist, Professional competition, Sport, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
Untitled
Rest was an important part of the adventure. To prevent his body cooling, Leszek used an NRC emergency foil blanket.
© Piotr Sadurski, Poland, Shortlist, Professional competition, Sport, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
Untitled
The Yukon river not only has a fast current, but there are also shallows, bends and dead branches in the water. Leszek often lost his way and had to walk to deeper water.
© Piotr Sadurski, Poland, Shortlist, Professional competition, Sport, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards
Untitled
After six days of swimming, the goal is close.
© Piotr Sadurski, Poland, Shortlist, Professional competition, Sport, 2024 Sony World Photography Awards