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5:39pm, September 04, 2003
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[Delete] | Texas paraplegic attempts 42-mile island swim to Santa Catalina Island
The Associated Press
Last Updated 11:03 p.m. PDT Wednesday, September 3, 2003
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Texas swimmer Jason Pipoly on Wednesday began a nearly two-day challenge to cover about 42 miles from Cabrillo Beach to Santa Catalina Island and back using only his upper body and arms.
The San Antonio man became the first American paraplegic to cross the 22-mile English Channel, swimming it last year in 13 hours and 48 minutes.
The 32-year-old, who uses a wheelchair, has been training for the swim of about 30 hours with a flotation device to keep his legs from dragging. He'll also wear leg straps to reduce severe spasms he gets in cold water.
He got into the ocean at 7 p.m. off the southwest Los Angeles beach.
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