VIDEO SHOWS: FRENCH COUPLE, MATTHIEU WITVOET AND CHLOE LEGER WITVOET, STARTING TRANSATLANTIC SWIM FROM CAPE VERDE TO GUADELOUPE TO RAISE AWARENESS OF OCEAN CONSERVATION EDITORS NOTE: PLEASE SEE EDIT 8377-FRANCE-OCEAN/CONSERVATION-SWIMMERS FOR EDIT WITH REUTERS INTERVIEWS WITH SWIMMERS BEFORE THEY BEGAN JOURNEY AND FOOTAGE OF TRAINING RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: MINDELO, CAPE VERDE (OCTOBER 31, 2025) (@CHLOE LE CALVEZ – Must on-screen courtesy '@Chloe Le Calvez') 1. VARIOUS OF SWIMMERS AND 'ECO-ADVENTURERS', MATTHIEU WITVOET AND CHLOE LEGER WITVOET, SWIMMING IN SEA 2. WITVOET AND LEGER WITVOET STANDING ON BEACH WITH RELATIVES AND TEAM ACCOMPANYING THEM ACROSS ATLANTIC 3. (SOUNDBITE) (French) SWIMMERS AND 'ECO-ADVENTURERS', MATTHIEU WITVOET AND CHLOE LEGER WITVOET, SAYING: MATTHIEU: "It's 9:50 a.m., we're in Mindelo, Cape Verde, and we're about to swim across the Atlantic." CHLOE: "To bring the ocean into schools." 4. WITVOET AND LEGER WITVOET STANDING ON BEACH WITH RELATIVES 5. (SOUNDBITE) (French) SWIMMER AND 'ECO-ADVENTURER', CHLOE LEGER WITVOET, SAYING: "I can't wait to leave, I can't wait to be in the water. The water is so beautiful, the blue is incredible, it's good, I just want to swim so much." 6. WITVOET STANDING WITH RELATIVES AND TEAM 7. (SOUNDBITE) (French) SWIMMER AND 'ECO-ADVENTURER', MATTHIEU WITVOET, SAYING: "Getting here has already been a whole adventure. We have the whole team which has sailed from Marseille to Cape Verde, practically the distance that we will swim (across Atlantic to Guadeloupe). We are leaving also with a great team, with our (boat) captain Symilien, our videographer Chloe, our photographer-cook Antoine, our nurse Lauren. We have revised a few protocols, there are still many unknowns but that is part of the adventure, and we are super excited to leave in these conditions, which are ideal." 8. WITVOET AND LEGER WITVOET HUGGING AND KISSING THEIR RELATIVES 9. WITVOET WAVING AS THEY WALK INTO SEA 10. RELATIVES AND TEAM APPLAUDING AND CHEERING ON BEACH 11. (MUTE) DRONE FOOTAGE OF WITVOET AND LEGER WITVOET SWIMMING WITH BUOYS 12. WITVOET AND LEGER WITVOET SWIMMING TOWARDS CAMERA 13. UNDERWATER SHOT OF WITVOET AND LEGER WITVOET SWIMMING STORY: A French couple has set out on a transatlantic swim on Friday (October 31) from the island nation of Cape Verde aiming to break records and raise awareness of the importance of protecting oceans. Matthieu Witvoet and Chloe Leger Witvoet hugged and kissed their relatives before wading into the clear blue waters off the coastal city of Mindelo to start their journey. The couple, who describe themselves as "eco-adventurers," are hoping to cover 3,800 kilometres (2,361 miles) to the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe over several months. Taking turns for a total of six hours a day each, they will attempt to set records for the longest swimming relay and the longest female ocean crossing, both "with drifting", which means the boat they will sleep on will drift at night, which will account for part of the distance they cover. The expedition is being followed by tens of thousands of schoolchildren across French-speaking countries who have subscribed to the swimmers' educational program, "Ocean at School". Teachers will receive weekly lesson plans on ocean-related topics such as marine biodiversity, pollution, and resource management, while students will follow the swimmers’ progress through photos, videos, and live updates. (Production: Lewis Macdonald, Manuel Ausloos)
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