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Friday, 7 March 2008, 17:36 GMT

Walliams completes swim to Africa

The pair swam across the Strait of Gibraltar
David Walliams and James Cracknell Little Britain star David Walliams and Olympic rower James Cracknell have completed their "swim to Africa" to raise money for the BBC's Sport Relief.

They swam 12 miles across the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain to Morocco in just over four-and-a-half hours.

Walliams was sick in the water and the pair saw dolphins and whales.

The swim was the last leg of Cracknell's 10-day trip from the UK to Africa in which he rowed the Channel and cycled through France and Spain.

"Swimming and throwing up... it shouldn't really go together"
David Walliams

Walliams famously swam the English Channel and raised £1m for Sport Relief in 2006.

Fewer than 10% of people who have attempted to swim the Channel have succeeded but Walliams told BBC News 24 that this challenge was more difficult.

"Swimming and throwing up... it shouldn't really go together," he said.

"It was really tough."

Day off

Cracknell's adventure started from Dover on Wednesday 27 February when he rowed across the English Channel in atrocious weather conditions in just over six hours.

"I can't believe David volunteered to do that after having done the Channel"

James Cracknell

He then jumped straight into the saddle and began his epic 1,400 mile cycle from northern France to southern Spain.

He cycled into Tarifa, after completing the second leg of his Herculean Sport Relief challenge in only eight days, before having a day off ahead Friday's swim.

"The worst four hours were definitely the swim," Cracknell told News 24.

"I can't believe David volunteered to do that after having done the Channel... it was horrible."

Show your support for James Cracknell's challenge



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Related to this story:
Cracknell/Walliams start swim (05 Mar 08 |  Sport Relief )
Cracknell begins Africa challenge (05 Mar 08 |  Sport Relief )
Walliams to swim for Sport Relief (18 Feb 08 |  Sport Relief )
Walliams completes Channel swim (08 Aug 06 |  Sport Relief )

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Challenge Cracknell
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