Nicolas is a perfectionist and swimming eccentric. Throughout the video he’s seen closely observing inflatable animals and racing them against each other, timer in hand—all in the name of science and discovering the most effective swimming technique in the world. He continues this way for days, all in the preparation for standing out and winning the Dubai Holding Burj Al Arab Swim race.

Jutting out of the sea like the sail of a dhow boat, the Burj Al Arab is one of the most iconic landmarks in Dubai. The Dubai Holding Burj Al Arab Swim represents the only time that anyone is allowed to swim near or around it, marking the event a rare opportunity - an opportunity to stand out.