French Olympian promises to swim around Iceland if they win Euro 2016

Agnel promises to swim all the way around the island, where sea temperatures drop to just above zero most of the year

Reigning Olympic 200m freestyle champion Yannick Agnel promised on Tuesday to swim all the way around Iceland if they win Euro 2016.

Iceland, who are set to face hosts France in the quarter-finals in Paris on Sunday, are being widely supported to create another upset in Euro 2016, after the minnows defeated England in the round of 16 game. Following their victory over England, Frenchman Agnel posted a message on his Twitter account saying, “If the Icelanders win the Euro, I will swim a tour of Iceland.”

https://twitter.com/YannickAgnel/status/747531708245905408

The 24-year-old French swimmer won three medals at the London Olympics in 2012 and will defend his title in the upcoming tournament in Rio.



Agnel’s comment on Twitter prompted a series of comical replies, including one user who promised they would be waiting at the end of the route with a “hot cup of chocolate”, while another posted a map of Iceland which showed the route is a total distance of 2,008km (1,247miles). “28 days at 3km/h, sorry if I’m a bit off”.

@YannickAgnel 28 jours à 3km/h, désolé si j'ai pris un peu large pic.twitter.com/RuOKUSMvl0

— ninotna_so (@epitomz) June 28, 2016

The Olympian’s promise also provided humour at Iceland’s pre-match press conference on Wednesday, where national coach Hallgrimsson suggested that the Frenchman has to pick the right weather for his endeavour. “I wouldn’t recommend it, but that is possible, although he’ll have to pick the right weather,” he said.



Sea temperatures in Iceland are usually around 10 to 15 degrees Celsius at this time of year, although that drops to just above zero most of the year.

This article originally appeared on The Guardian