Knut Ivan Rasmussen (44) is always looking for extreme experiences – and preferably in the water.

In 2008, he swam from Oslo to sgårdstrand with inflammation in one hand.

Six years later, he swam from the same place to the ends of the world in Tjøme with healthy hands.

His ongoing project, however, is on an entirely different level: In just a month, he’ll be swimming 70 miles, from Oslo to Bergen.

Fighting against the strong current

based on Bergens Tidende if so, he would be the first person in history to swim that far. NRK mention this first.

When Dagbladet called on Monday afternoon, he was still excited.

– For the most part, everything went very well. On the way out of the Oslofjord, it was very difficult to overcome the current, but now it is better, he told Dagbladet.

Rasmussen said the current was so strong that he doubted he would ever make it to Bergen. But by his own admission, he was so stubborn that he wouldn’t give up unless he really had to.

On Monday he had reached Kvitsøy in Rogaland, where he took a well-deserved rest before continuing with a tough challenge.

Mental stress

Rasmussen is currently a psychologist at a private clinic in Oslo. He believes there are many psychological factors that put this ambitious journey to the test.

– You can drive so many levels. First and foremost, it’s about you having to keep your spirits up, even if there’s a long way to go. You also end up in a lot of different situations that you have to deal with, which can be demanding, he says.

Rasmussen leaves the dock in Oslo on July 1. If all goes according to plan, he will arrive in Bergen in mid-August.

He explains that optimism so far has varied widely, but he tries to appreciate the experience itself.

– I have to admit that I don’t just enjoy life on the water. It’s a tremendous tension sometimes. At the same time, I had some fun moments in the “flow zone”, he said, and explained:

– I have a plan of how far I have to go each day. When things go slower than planned – apart from being more tired than expected – it costs a lot. It’s a lot of work to lay in the water hour after hour, especially when you think that what you’re doing isn’t good enough.

– Do completely normal things

Rasmussen appreciates that he can live “in a bubble” for a long time.

– What’s the first thing you’ll do when you arrive in Bergen and have solid ground under your feet again?

– I’m most looking forward to doing completely normal things. Buy coffee, go for a walk, shave. I’m also going to Fløyen.

Adventurer says he prefers not to spend time and effort thinking about what he misses about life on land. In the worst case, it can ruin the experience on the water, he believes.

– I’d rather try to think that I did something quite special.