Juanjo Caselles is preparing for one of the world’s toughest open-water swims: a 36-kilometre crossing of Scotland’s Loch Ness.
Orihuela swimmer Juan José “Juanjo” Caselles is preparing to cross Loch Ness in a demanding challenge aimed at continuing to break down barriers for people with disabilities.
The 45-year-old, who has been swimming since he was 17, will attempt the 36-kilometre crossing on 2 September. He expects to spend between 11 and 12 hours in the water, where temperatures average about 13°C and strong, cold winds can make conditions even more difficult.
Caselles began swimming in 1998 following medical advice. As a teenager, he was diagnosed with hip dysplasia, a condition in which the head of the femur does not fit correctly into the pelvic socket. It caused instability, pain, joint deterioration and a permanent limp.
After specialist treatment and several unsuccessful operations, doctors told him that he would not recover fully. Swimming was recommended to help him control his weight and strengthen his back.
At the time, municipal swimming facilities were scarce in the Vega Baja area. Caselles therefore began training in the natural pools along Torrevieja’s Juan Aparicio seafront before using facilities in Elche, Alicante, Orihuela and, eventually, Torrevieja.
Now a member of Murcia Masters Swimming Club, he has become an experienced long-distance open-water swimmer. Through his challenges, he hopes to increase the visibility of disabled athletes and demonstrate that disability is not a barrier to sporting achievement.
His previous accomplishments include swimming from Tabarca to Alicante, completing the 31-kilometre Ultra Ebre Swim Marathon, circling Manhattan over 46 kilometres, crossing the Strait of Gibraltar and swimming 38 kilometres between Alicante and La Mata.
In 2025, he completed a 20-kilometre route between Lisbon and Cascais. He also swam almost 29 kilometres along the Vega Baja coastline in nine hours to raise awareness and support research into childhood cancer.
Caselles was selected for the Loch Ness crossing because of his extensive long-distance swimming record. The challenge requires significant logistical support, including an accompanying supply boat and a safety team. Many swimmers are unable to complete the route.
To prepare, Caselles has trained without a wetsuit throughout the coldest winter months off Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa, covering almost 400 kilometres since December.
Before travelling to Scotland, he will again compete in the 27-kilometre Battle of Rande in Galicia. He then plans to arrive at Loch Ness several weeks early, swimming three hours each day to acclimatise to the extreme conditions.
