Record-breaking Russian adventurer to return to Coast

Almost a year to the day since he completed the longest solo man-powered voyage of all time, Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov will be back on the Sunshine Coast next week to unveil a permanent reminder of his achievement.

Mr Konyukhov will be joined by Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson and Russian Ambassador to Australia Vladimir Morozov at the ceremony at Mooloolaba, close to where he came to shore following his epic 16,800-kilometre, five-month journey from Valparaiso in Chile.

Sunshine Coast Council has constructed a plinth that records details of the adventurer’s row which culminated with landfall on May 31.

The public unveiling will be held at beach access 194 on Parkyn Parade at 3pm on Wednesday and Mayor Jamieson said he hoped many of the hundreds of Coast residents who were on the beach, and on the water, to see Mr Konyukhov’s arrival last year would return to welcome him back to the region.

“Everyone was in awe of Fedor’s achievement last year and it’s very fitting that we are honouring him in his way, very close to where his remarkable row across the Pacific ended last year,” Mayor Jamieson.

“It will be great to be able to welcome Fedor, as well as his son Oscar, back to the Coast for the one-year anniversary of his journey.

“I’m sure he’ll be very pleased when he sees the permanent reminder of what he managed to achieve 12 months ago.

“The plinth has pride of place on the Spit at the Mooloolaba and will certainly be a talking point for the many thousands of people who visit the area each year.”

Now 64-years-old, Mr Konyukhov will arrive on the Sunshine Coast on Monday evening – this time via more normal means of transport.

The solo row, from Chile to Australia, capped off a lifetime of adventures for his country’s most well-known adventurer.

He has twice climbed Mount Everest, sailed around the world four times and walked to the North and South Poles.

He also held the record for rowing across the Atlantic - in just 47 days - and has climbed the highest summits on every continent in the world.

A film production company from leading Russian TV station Channel 4 (with more than 100 million viewers) captured Mr Konyukhov’s first steps on shore at Mooloolaba which was followed by Acting Mayor Cr Chris Thompson presenting him with a gift from the Sunshine Coast to commemorate this world record achievement.

A Russian television network has already indicated it will report on the adventurer’s return to the Coast next week.

Mr Konyukhov has previously presented one of the oars he used on his row to Cr Thompson.