The Great Voyage

Wellness products help you set world records even when you're over 60, as Vasily Bochkarev, eight-time marathon swimmer and Oriflame partner, proves on his own example.

When did you start to actively participate in sports?

From my early childhood I was a very active boy. People say about such a boy - he has an awl in one place. (laughs) But in my youth I never played any sport seriously, professionally. Only at the age of 53 did I find my niche and become interested in marathon swimming.

Why did you choose swimming?

I have always been impressed by people who demonstrated incredible displays of strength, endurance, speed, and agility outside of basic sports disciplines. Even at the age of 15 I discovered my ability to stay afloat for a long time, then I managed to swim across Lake Meshcherskoye. I learned to swim on my own, but I never had any athletic technique. I literally raved about the seas and oceans, sharks, sperm whales, scuba divers, and I wanted to swim like Ichthyander. All of my unbelievable childhood dreams came true to a much greater extent than I could have imagined. After climbing Kilimanjaro and Mount Elbrus, I finally realized that my element was not cold mountain peaks, but warm tropical seas.

What record was the hardest for you to climb?

All records were given to me with great difficulty. Not a single person could repeat any of my marathon swims, and 11 swimmers tried to do that. The toughest was the marathon around Bora Bora Island on my 58th birthday. I covered 26.92 miles in 12 hours and 49 minutes of continuous swimming in pretty cool Pacific water. During the swim, I was tested by hurricane, storm, eerie currents, and fishing nets.

Are you watching your diet? Do you follow a special diet?

Nutrition is the foundation of my physical and mental form. If I didn't follow my special methods, then marathon records would be out of the question. It is physically impossible to achieve such results by eating like an ordinary person or like an athlete. My holistic approach: breathing, nutrition based on Wellness products, drinking regimen, physical activity.

How do Wellness products help you stay in shape? Do you have a favorite product?

I am one of the first true fans of the Wellness line. For 12 years now I have been supplementing my regular diet with these products and taking them on tropical trips. My favorite product in the series is the bars. I have had a terrible sweet tooth since childhood. I try to provide Wellness bars to all my travel and athlete friends.

How do you manage to combine your business and your passion for sports?

I've been able to combine my personal, sporting and social life with my business in partnership with Oriflame for 20 years now.

What are your goals for the near future?

I intend to set records in the marathon race as long as I have the strength to do so. I am getting old, I am 61 years old, I am a labor veteran, retired, but for another twenty-thirty years I will be able to amaze the world. 

Vasiliy Bochkare's records