Though he holds world records for his swims, Strel now swims for peace, friendship, and a clean environment.
He talks to audiences about the reasons for his swims.
He has swum in dirty rivers to promote the need for clean water.
He swam the Amazon to raise people’s awareness of the importance of this region.
The Amazon Rain Forest produces 20 percent of the world’s oxygen, and it is threatened by deforestation and pollution.
If Strel could get people to pay attention to the Amazon, he hoped they might want to help protect and save it.