Maltese endurance swimmer Neil Agius’ incredible 142.3km world record remains intact after Belgian ultra-athlete Matthieu Bonne was forced to end his attempt to surpass it.Bonne spent more than 48 hours in the open sea and covered approximately 100km before he and his team made the decision to stop, with at least another 50km and another night of swimming still ahead.His team said extremely challenging winds, swell and opposing currents made it increasingly difficult for him to maintain his pace and course. After more than two days at sea, salt water had also severely affected his mouth.Agius has held the world record since September 2024, when he swam 142.3km around the Maltese Islands in 60 hours, 35 minutes and four seconds. The mammoth feat was officially ratified by WOWSA as the longest unassisted, current-neutral ocean swim.Maltese endurance athlete Fabio Spiteri reacted to Bonne’s attempt, celebrating the fact that the record remains in Maltese hands while praising both athletes.“Neil Agius’ solo World Record swim of 142km is still OURS,” Spiteri wrote, adding: “Respect to Matthieu Bonne to try and retake his WR but 142k of a non stop swim is a BEAST!”Bonne’s team stressed that while the record was not meant to be this time, swimming around 100km in the open sea for more than 48 hours nonstop and unassisted remained an incredible achievement.For now, however, Agius’ 142.3km world record remains firmly Malta’s.•