He has conquered the English Channel, conquered the Enduroman, and pushed the boundaries of human endurance. At 49, Ichem ZAHER, Moroccan ultra-triathlete and the first African to complete the Enduroman—one of the world's most formidable triathlons—is preparing to write a new page of history, between the memory-laden waters of Dakar and Gorée Island.

This Saturday, September 27 at noon, he will set off on an extraordinary challenge: 24 hours of continuous swimming, making 12 round trips between the Dakar Lagoon and Gorée. An unprecedented feat, as part of the legendary Dakar–Gorée crossing, an annual gathering for open water swimming enthusiasts.

Beyond his physical performance, he devotes his energy to a cause: that of children with heart defects. Thanks to his commitment to Mécénat chirurgie cardiaque, he has already raised more than €8,000 to fund vital operations.

On the sporting front, this new challenge aims to beat the Moroccan record for the longest open water swimming distance and Senegal for the longest crossing in the Dakar-Gorée race.

But for him, these titles are only a means, not an end. "I'm not looking to break records for the sake of glory. My only goal is to transform effort into hope," he says.

After this 24-hour event, Ichem will continue with the Dakar-Gorée crossing on Sunday alongside his 12-year-old son, who will be participating in this event. "Swimming alongside my son, to save other children, gives this challenge an even more powerful dimension," he adds.

By choosing this crossing as the terrain for his challenge, Ichem Zaher gives his feat a strong symbolic significance, between surpassing oneself, transmission and homage to history.

Ultra-endurance as a way of life

Ichem Zaher's journey has included more than 20 marathons run around the world, a dozen Ironmans, three Marathon des Sables (Morocco and Peru). And of course, the Enduroman, considered the ultimate triathlon event with 135 km of running, 48 km of sea swimming, and 300 km of cycling between London and Paris.

In 2024, he swam across the English Channel (48 km), and now aims to surpass this distance in Senegalese waters unassisted and without a wetsuit. "The real limit isn't physical, it's mental. It's our brain that sets the boundaries. And we can push them back," he concludes.