Merle Liivand Explained

Merle Liivand (also known as Eco Mermaid and Merle The Mermaid; born 17 April 1991)[1] is an Estonian Olympic swimmer and environmental activist.[2] [3] [4] [5]

Career

As of 2015, Liivand was teaching swimming lessons at St. Francis College's mermaid school.[6] [7] In May 2022, she completed a 26.22 miles (42.19 kilometers) swim while wearing a silicone monofin in 11 hours and 54 seconds. The swim took place in Florida and came after her latest 18.6 miles (30 kilometers) record, which was achieved in 9 hours and 19 minutes.[8] [9] [10]

In 2023, she swam for 30 miles (50 kilometers) for 14 hours and 15 minutes around Biscayne Bay in Miami, Florida. The goal of swimming for 30 miles was set to allude to the United Nations Environment Program's "30x30" goals for 2030. During the swim, she picked up garbage in the water with a plastic bag. In that year, Liivand had received five Guinness World Records awards related to swimming.[11]

According to Liivand, she started attempting to raise awareness about marine pollution after observing high concentrations of garbage in the sea and on the beach during the 2016 Olympic games at Rio de Janeiro. She stated that she had planned to swim at the Biscayne Bay at one point, but canceled the event due to the concentration of toxic debris and plastic in the water. She stated that, during a training session prior to her June 2022 swim in Florida, she nearly ingested microplastics while breathing in the water.[12]

Personal life

Liivand was born in Tallinn.[13] She started swimming as a child due to her breathing problems. She moved from Estonia to Florida at the age of 10.[14] She lives in Miami Beach, Florida.

References

  1. Web site: 2023 . Merle Liivand . 2024-07-13 . World Aquatics. en.
  2. Web site: Anwer . Saira . 2024-04-17 . South Florida activist ‘Merle the Mermaid’ postpones Biscayne Bay record-breaking swim due to pollution . 2024-04-17 . WPLG . en.
  3. Web site: Modak . Susmita . 2021-08-16 . Merle Liivand Holds A New Guinness World Record For 9-Hour Monofin Swim . 2024-04-17 . www.thehansindia.com . en.
  4. Web site: Webster . Charlie . 2023-08-25 . Meet the eco-friendly ‘mermaid’ cleaning oceans one record-breaking swim at a time . 2024-04-17 . CNN . en.
  5. Web site: 2022-06-09 . US woman stung by jellyfish goes on to swim 42.2 km wearing monofin to break Guinness World Record . 2024-04-17 . TimesNow . en.
  6. Web site: Mermaid School 'World of Swimming' Makes a Splash . 2024-04-18 . ABC News . en.
  7. Web site: Wahyuningsih . Merry . Belajar Jadi Putri Duyung di Sekolah 'World of Swimming' . 2024-04-18 . gaya hidup . id-ID.
  8. Web site: Sanchez . Yenny . 2022-06-12 . Woman sets record swimming 26.22 miles in a mermaid fin . 2024-04-17 . CNN . en.
  9. News: Vargas . Ramon Antonio . 2022-06-14 . ‘Eco mermaid’ sets world record for monofin swimming at 26.22 miles . 2024-04-18 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  10. Web site: 2022-06-12 . Woman sets record swimming 26.22 miles in a mermaid fin . 2024-04-18 . WTOP News . en.
  11. News: White . Caleb . 2023 . Merle the Eco Mermaid From Florida Wants to Set 5th Guinness World Record for Swimming 50 Kilometers to Collect Trash . Science TImes.
  12. Web site: 2022-06-15 . Woman sets Guinness World Record for the farthest swim in mermaid fin . 2024-04-18 . The Indian Express . en.
  13. Web site: 2023-03-27 . Miami Beach’s real mermaid, Merle Liivand . 2024-07-13 . Miami's Community News . en.
  14. News: Funcheon . Deirdra . 2023 . Miami Beach mermaid attempts world-record swim . Axios.

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