PARIS: A little over 49 days — that’s all it took Frenchman Thomas Coville to sail around the world alone, to set what French officials say is a new world record.
Coville sailed into the Brittany port of Brest on Monday on his Sodebo trimaran. He rejoined his family, weeping with joy, thanked his support crews and showered the seas with champagne.
His round-the-world journey, starting from an island in the English Channel, took 49 days, 3 hours, 7 minutes and 38 seconds, according to his website.
It was Coville’s third attempt to beat the previous record of 57 days held by Frenchman Francis Joyon since 2008. The record before that, of 71 days, had been held by British sailor Ellen MacArthur.
Joyon, in a statement, was among those congratulating Coville.
Frenchman sets round-the-world sailing record: 49 days
Frenchman sets round-the-world sailing record: 49 days
Saudi cultural identity on show at Winter Olympics fashion showcase
- Skier Rakan Alireza represents the Kingdom at event in Milan, modeling bespoke design by renowned Saudi fashion designer Alya Al-Salmi
- 17 National Olympic Committees participate in showcase and Saudis are sole representatives of the Arab world
MILAN: Ahead of the opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, cross-country skier Rakan Alireza represented Team Saudi at an Olympic Winter Games Fashion Showcase hosted by the International Olympic Committee in Milan this week.
He modeled a bespoke design by renowned Saudi fashion designer Alya Al-Salmi at the event on Wednesday, which took place at Clubhouse 26, the official hospitality venue for the Games.
Seventeen National Olympic Committees participated in the showcase and the Saudis were the sole representatives of the Arab world.
The design of Alireza’s outfit was described as drawing inspiration from Saudi heritage, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens that seamlessly blends tradition with modern elegance, offering a visual narrative of national identity presented within an international context.
Regarded as one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent fashion designers, Al-Salmi also created the outfits worn by team Saudi at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
The opening ceremony for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games is on Friday.
