Frederiksen has competed in three indoor USMS events in the past year, and one other open water swim. He finished second overall at the 2016 Big Shoulders Open Water Swim 5K in Chicago this past September.

However, his greatest challenge will come at the end of August -- a 21-mile swim from England to France across the English Channel. Swimmers are required to hire a boat and captain in addition to bringing their own crew. His window to attempt the swim is Aug. 28 to Sept. 4.

“The pilot will get a hold of me when there is a strong enough weather pattern to hold for an attempt,” said Frederiksen, who says the English Channel is considered the Mount Everest of swimming. "We’ll be launching from the white cliffs of Dover and going straight across to Cap Gris Nez.”

In order to help prepare, Frederiksen swam nearly 23 miles (800 laps) at the Moline YMCA on Saturday. That distance was well over twice as far as he had ever swum before.

“That was a huge confidence booster for me,” said Frederiksen, who said freestyle is the most efficient stroke for long distances. “The longest I had ever swum before Saturday was 15,000 yards. Saturday I swam 40,000 yards in one shot. I really didn’t think I was capable of that.”