Olympics Fanatic Attempts Impromptu Swim From France to New York to Bring Spirit of Games to America Neetzan Zimmerman · 07/30/12 06:30PM Inspired by the Olympics, a 34-year-old Brit on holiday in the southern French city of Biarritz reportedly decided to go for a swim all the way across the Atlantic, but was forced to turn around less than a quarter-mile offshore.