Teen Aims for 'Triple Crown' Swim Achievement After Ireland to Scotland Success

A 15-year-old boy from Lurgan in Co Armagh, has set his sights on a swimming 'Triple Crown', after he became the youngest person to swim the North Channel from Ireland to Scotland solo.

Oscar Black swam from the Gobbins to Portpatrick in 16 hours and 38 minutes last week.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said that he is 'absolutely thrilled' to have completed the swim.

He described feeling like he was not getting any closer to his destination.

'It seemed like it wasn't getting any closer and when you see that it makes your brain stress and worry that you're not going to get it all done, all the different emotions rushing through your head,' he said.

He said that mental preparation is probably more important than the physical training.

The estimated ten-hour swim turned into a 16-hour swim due to the current.

Oscar said he 'thought it went really fast'.

'I did not expect to get out of the water then for me to be told I was in the water for 16 hours,' he said. 'I wasn't expecting it at all.'

However, he said he got between ten and 20 stings from lion jellyfish on his swim.

Oscar said that he plans in the future to try to complete the Irish Triple Crown. It consists of three swims; the North Channel, Galway Bay, Fastnet - and swimmers qualify for the 'Triple Crown' once all three are completed.