Bulgaria's best swimmer Petar Stoychev managed to cross the English Channel with the third best time ever.

On August 22 Stoychev failed improving the world record. He crossed the channel in seven hours and 21 minutes, Bulgarian National Radio reported.

The distance Stoychev overcame is 32 km. His ending time ranked the Bulgarian swimmer third with the best achievement being seven hours and three minutes, the national radio reported.

By the time Stoychev reached the middle of the channel he managed to improve the timing by four minutes but the strong wind and current slowed him down in the last seven kilometres.

According to initial information Stoychev's time was second best but the judges re-evaluated his performance on the morning of August 23.

More than 6000 swimmers have tried to set a record in crossing the channel.

Stoychev said he was glad to be the first Bulgarian to cross the channel. The bad weather conditions hindered his performance, Stoychev said.